Genome Sequence of Rickettsia bellii Illuminates the Role of Amoebae in Gene Exchanges between Intracellular Pathogens (original) (raw)
Figure 4
Sex Pili-Like Surface Appendage of R. bellii
(A) Electron micrograph of pili observed after negative staining. R. bellii shows long and flexible pilus between 2 bacteria observed from supernatant of XTC-2 cells infected for 48 h at 28 °C. Bacteria were fixed by addition (1:1) of 2% formaldehyde-saline and samples were applied to copper Formvar grids (Electron Microscopy Sciences) for 2 min before negative staining with 1% phosphotungstic acid (pH 6.5) for 2 to 4 min. Samples were examined with a Hitachi 7000 transmission electron microscope.
(B) Immunofluorescence performed on the same bacterial culture. R. bellii were probed with a rabbit polyclonal anti-R. belli antibody and with a FITC-conjugated goat anti rabbit Ig as secondary antibody. Slides were examined with an Olympus BX 51 microscope (magnification 100×).