Abstract
The ultrastructure of microbial colonies was studied. Inside the colonies three types of intercellular contacts were demonstrated. In the colonies of Gram-negative bacteria, the cells were found to be connected by tight adhesions of outer membranes of the cell walls and membrane bridges. In the colonies of Gram-positive bacteria, the intercellular contacts were formed by fusion of peptidoglucan layers of the cell walls. Bacterial cells were differentiated by the presence of a capsule-like envelope. The obtained data indicate the existence of elements of cellular cooperation and specialization in microbial colonies.
MeSH terms
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Bacterial Adhesion
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Brevibacterium / growth & development
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Brevibacterium / ultrastructure
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Cell Membrane / metabolism
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Cell Wall / metabolism
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Escherichia coli / growth & development
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Escherichia coli / ultrastructure
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Gram-Negative Bacteria / growth & development
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Gram-Negative Bacteria / ultrastructure*
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Gram-Positive Bacteria / growth & development
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Gram-Positive Bacteria / ultrastructure*
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Microscopy, Electron
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Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
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Salmonella typhimurium / growth & development
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Salmonella typhimurium / ultrastructure
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Shigella flexneri / growth & development
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Shigella flexneri / ultrastructure
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Staphylococcus aureus / growth & development
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Staphylococcus aureus / ultrastructure