title: Critical-point drying: rapid method for the determination of bacterial extracellular polymer and surface structures.
abstract: The relative amount of extracellular polymer which remains about Azotobacter vinelandii, Zoogloea ramigera, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Diplococcus pneumoniae after critical-point drying was studied by electron microscopy. The results obtained with this technique are compared to those obtained with methods that illustrate extracellular polymer, such as freeze-etching and ruthenium red staining. Comparative results indicate critical-point drying to be a rapid, reliable method for the determination of capsule-like polymer surrounding bacterial cells. In addition, critical-point drying can be used to observe morphogenetic changes, such as vesicle production.
mesh_terms: D001395:Azotobacter / Q000166:cytology*; D002473:Cell Wall; D003593:Cytoplasm; D005613:Freeze Etching; D006652:Histological Techniques; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000166:cytology*; D008722:Methods; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011108:Polymers; D012428:Ruthenium; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000166:cytology*; D015045:Zoogloea / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D012428:Ruthenium