MORPHOLOGY OF THE VIABLE BUT NONCULTURABLE VIBRIO-CHOLERAE AS DETERMINED BY THE FREEZE FIXATION TECHNIQUE

The morphology of the nonculturable Vibrio cholerae strain TSI-4 was e xamined by the freeze fixation technique of electron microscopy and su bsequently four unique structures were found in the fine structure s o f this bacterium. The size of the cell was about 2/3 of the growing ce ll. Although the cell was observed to have an outer membrane as well a s the cell membrane and cytoplasm, the outer membrane was undulated an d had a surface layer of fine fibers. The peptidoglycan layer was thic k and more electron dense than that of normal cells.