Ultrastructural features of microbial colony organization.

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.