Spirochaetes are motile bacteria. They have very fine flagella attached to the cell surface, and the rotating action of these propel spirochaetes through the medium. Spirochaetes have a spiral body and twist through the medium. These are from the termite Incisitermes. They have got trapped in a bend of a length of a trachea from their host flagellate. The spirochaetes move by turning, and in this case all of the spirochaetes were imaged while moving synchronously. Small Tricercomitus cells are attached to the top of the tracheae. Phase contrast.
Spirochaetes are motile bacteria. They have very fine flagella attached to the cell surface, and the rotating action of these propel spirochaetes through the medium. Spirochaetes have a spiral body and twist through the medium. These are from the termite Incisitermes. Many flagellates that are endobiotic in termites have bacteria attached to the outside. In many cases these are spirochaetes. They move actively and this can produce the propulsive force for the the eukaryote flagellate. Phase contrast.
Spirochaetes are motile bacteria. They have very fine flagella attached to the cell surface, and the rotating action of these propel spirochaetes through the medium. Spirochaetes have a spiral body and twist through the medium. Several different sized-spirochaetes can be seen in this image. From the termite Incisitermes. Very common inhabitants of the gut. Phase contrast.
Spirochaetes are motile bacteria. They have very fine flagella attached to the cell surface, and the rotating action of these propel spirochaetes through the medium. Spirochaetes have a spiral body and twist through the medium. This cell is from the termite Incisitermes. The bubble at one end is the start of spore formation. Phase contrast.
Leptospira observed in freshwater sediments in the vicinity of Broome, Western Australia in September 2003. This image was taken using phase contrast optics. This work was supported by the Australian Biological Resources Study.
