The Use of Transmission Electron Microscopy to Study the Composition of Pseudomonas Fragi Attachment Material

Authors

Paula J. Herald
Edmund A. Zottola

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Abstract

Electron microscopy techniques were used to study the attachment matrix of Pseudomonas fragi used to demonstrate the presence of attachment fibrils of P. fragi adhered to stainless steel. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to examine thin sectioned cells strained with ruthenium red or alcian blue. Extracellular substances surrounding cells stained with ruthenium red or alcian blue had a mat- or spike-like morphology. This indicated that these substances were acidic mucopolysaccharides that may be involved in the attachment of P. fragi to food contact surfaces.

Recommended Citation

Herald, Paula J. and Zottola, Edmund A. (1988) "The Use of Transmission Electron Microscopy to Study the Composition of Pseudomonas Fragi Attachment Material," Food Structure: Vol. 7: No. 1, Article 6.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/foodmicrostructure/vol7/iss1/6