Nichols B A, Setzer P Y, Pang F, Dawson C R
J Bacteriol. 1985 Oct;164(1):344-9. doi: 10.1128/jb.164.1.344-349.1985.
Two kinds of surface specializations of chlamydiae have been described: hemispheric projections and spikelike rods. We undertook the present studies to demonstrate chlamydial ultrastructure in greater detail in conventional thin-sectioned specimens. Chlamydia trachomatis (LGV strain L2/434/Bu), cultured for 40 h in L929 mouse fibroblasts, was fixed in glutaraldehyde-acrolein, p-formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde, or glutaraldehyde-osmium tetroxide mixtures, postfixed in osmium tetroxide, stained in uranyl acetate, dehydrated in ethanols, and embedded in Epon. By the use of fixatives that penetrate and fix rapidly, chlamydial outer and plasma membranes were clearly revealed. Our results indicate that the hemispheric projections are specializations of the plasma membrane of elementary bodies. The spikelike projections are found in intermediate forms, originate beneath depressions of the plasma membrane, and extend through the periplasmic space and outer membrane to end with pointed tips. Improved preservation of chlamydiae provides a new, informative view of their complex structure. Significant interactions between chlamydiae and host cells might be influenced by the surface structures shown in this study.
半球形突起和刺状杆。我们进行了本研究，以在传统薄切片标本中更详细地展示衣原体的超微结构。沙眼衣原体（LGV菌株L2/434/Bu）在L929小鼠成纤维细胞中培养40小时后，用戊二醛 - 丙烯醛、对甲醛 - 戊二醛或戊二醛 - 四氧化锇混合物固定，再用四氧化锇后固定，用醋酸铀染色，用乙醇脱水，然后包埋在环氧树脂中。通过使用能快速渗透和固定的固定剂，衣原体的外膜和质膜清晰可见。我们的结果表明，半球形突起是原体质膜的特化结构。刺状突起存在于中间形式中，起源于质膜凹陷下方，并穿过周质空间和外膜，末端为尖状。衣原体保存的改善为其复杂结构提供了一个新的、有价值的视角。衣原体与宿主细胞之间的重要相互作用可能会受到本研究中所示表面结构的影响。
