Electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis of a halophilic leptospire

The morphology of cells of strain Muggia, a slightly halophilic leptospire, was examined by the negative staining technique.The ultrastructure of the cells was rather similar to that of cells of Leptonema illini, i. e. the cells possessed cytoplasmic tubules. The basal complex of their flagella, however, was similar to the corresponding part of flagella on Gramnegative bacteria. The interior of the cells was densely packed with inclusions, except for the two outermost wavelengths at each end where these inclusions were absent.X-ray microanalysis showed that the inclusions contained sodium and chlorine as their main constituents. The inclusions disappeared upon storage of the cultures at room temperature.