Negative staining can cause clumping of Bordetella pertussis fimbriae.
The state of fimbriae type 2 (Fim 2) and fimbriae type 3 (Fim 3) preparations from Bordetella pertussis were examined by negative stain electron microscopy. Uranyl acetate induced clumping of Fim 3 regardless of pH and was unsuitable as a stain for establishing the state of fimbriae. Both ammonium molybdate and sodium phosphotungstate were able to show the differences in Fim 3 stored at pH 7.2 and pH 9.5.
Hamilton
R C
RC
Research and Development Division, CSL Ltd., Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Bennet
J
J
Drane
D
D
Pietrzykowski
E
E
Seddon
F
F
Stefancic
A
A
Cox
J
J
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001886:Bordetella pertussis / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D016624:Negative Staining / Q000379:methods*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial