title: Motility and Ultrastructure ofSpirochaeta thermophila.
abstract: We analyze here for the first time the swimming behavior of a thermophilic, strictly anaerobic Spirochete, namelySpirochaeta thermophilausing high temperature light microscopy. Our data show thatS. thermophilavery rapidly can change its morphology during swimming, resulting in cells appearing nearly linear, in cells possessing three different spiral forms, and in cells being linear at one end and spiral at the other end. In addition cells can rapidly bend by up to 180°, with their ends coming into close contact. We combine electron with light microscopy to explain these various cell morphologies. Swimming speeds for cells with the various morphologies did not differ significantly: the average speed was 33 (± 8) μm/s, with minimal and maximal speeds of 19 and 59 μm/s, respectively. Addition of gelling agents like polyvinylpyrrolidone or methyl cellulose to the growth medium resulted in lower and not higher swimming speeds, arguing against the idea that the highly unusual cell body plan ofS. thermophilaenables cells to swim more efficiently in gel-like habitats.
authors: Faculty of Biology, University of Regensburg Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Reinhard
authors: R
authors: Wirth
authors: In-Vitro DX and Bioscience, Department of Strategy and Innovation, Siemens Healthcare GmbH Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Ugele
authors: Department of Biology I, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, Germany.
authors: Gerhard
authors: G
authors: Wanner
keywords: Spirochaeta thermophila; cell body plan; changing cell morphology; electron microscopy; high temperature light microscopy; motility