Ultrastructure of Ehrlichia mineirensis, a new member of the Ehrlichia genus

0423832 - BC 2014 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Cabezas Cruz, Alejandro - Vancová, Marie - Zweygarth, E. - Ribeiro, M.F.B. - Grubhoffer, Libor - Passos, L.M.F.
Ultrastructure of Ehrlichia mineirensis, a new member of the Ehrlichia genus.
Veterinary Microbiology. Roč. 167, 3-4 (2013), s. 455-458. ISSN 0378-1135. E-ISSN 1873-2542
R&D Projects: GA TA ČR TE01020118
EU Projects: European Commission(XE) 238511 - POSTICK
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : Ehrlichia mineirensis * elctron microscopy * in vitro culture
Subject RIV: EA - Cell Biology
Impact factor: 2.726, year: 2013

Recently, we reported the in vitro isolation and the molecular characterization of a new species of Ehrlichia (Ehrlichia mineirensis) from haemolymph of Brazilian Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks. This organism shows an ortholog of Ehrlichia canis major immunogenic protein gp36 with a new structure of tandem repeats. In the present study, we used electron microscopy (high pressure freezing and freeze substitution preparative techniques) to characterize morphologically this new agent growing in IDE8 tick cells. The results showed that E. mineirensis shares ultrastructural features with other members of the genus Ehrlichia (Ehrlichia muris, E. canis and Ehrlichia chaffeensis); typical parasitophorous vacuoles (morulae) contain electron-dense and reticulated Ehrlichiae embedded inside a fibrillar matrix. We observed the characteristic Gram-negative-type cell wall composed of both cytoplasmic and rippled outer membrane. We found organisms undergoing binary fission and rarely altered cells with unusual invagination of the cytoplasmic membrane.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0229890