The Cytology of an Avian Strain of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Studied With the Electron and Light Microscopes

Abstract

The early literature on the cytology of M1ycobacterium tutbercuilosis was reviewe(I by Knaysi (1929). Among the reports not reviewed by him are those of Feinberg (1900), Nakanishi (1901), 'Minder (1916), Kirchensteins (1922), and Petit (1926). Feinberg observed a red nucleus and a bluie cytoplasm in cells stainedl by a modified Romanowski's soluition. iNakanishi demonstrated by postvital staining wi-ith methylene blute a round body locatedl near the middle of the cell; sometimes there was a constricted body or there were two round bodies. 'Minder distinguished between MIuch's granules and polar bodies, although the latter were demonstrable by Mluch's method of staining. He stated that the grantules were neither spores nor decomposition products. Kirchensteins, using a complicated method of staining with basic fuchsin, concluded that a nuclear apparattus existed consisting of several granules united by fine filaments. Petit did not attribute to the granules a nuclear nature. Knaysi (1929) studiedI a strain, originally of the human type, which had lost its pathogenicity; his observations were summarized as follows:

The Intracellular Structures of Mycobacteria

“…There is still some controversy concerning the nature of dense granules found in acid-fast bacilli. Knaysi et al (1) reported that they were nuclei. However, it has been rejected by many researchers because of the staining properties of these granules and their behavior during growth (Winterscheid and Mudd ;(10) Takeya et al;(5) Glauert and Briegercp).…”

The Structure, Division, and Fusion of Nuclei Observed in Living Cells of Mycobacterium Thamnopheos

“…The granules of Mycobacterium have been considered variously as spores, lipoid inclusions, volutin inclusions, vacuoles of unknown nature (reviewed by Knaysi, 1929), nuclei (Knaysi, Hillier, and Fabricant, 1950), and mitochondria (Mudd et al, 1951). The present work shows that, regardless of size or location, they have the structure and behavior characteristic of nuclei.…”

“…Since the development of the phase microscope, nuclei and nuclear division have been observed in living cells of certain bacteria (Tulasne, 1949;Knaysi, 1951Knaysi, , 1952. Published photographic records show that the granules of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which according to Knaysi, Hillier, and Fabricant (1950) are the cell nuclei, appear dark, indicating a greater optical density than the surrounding cytoplasm, but the nuclei of the other species investigated appear as bright bodies in a dark cytoplasm. However, with the exception of the forespore nucleus of Bacillus cereus, in which chromosomes, nucleoplasm, and a nuclear membrane have been clearly seen (Knaysi, 1952), no clear-cut organization has been revealed within these nuclei.…”

Volutin Production in Aerobacter Aerogenes Due to Nutrient Imbalance

“…for instance, mycobacteria (Lembke and Ruska, 1940; Knaysi et al, 1950;Mudd et al, 1951b), C. diphtheriae (Morton and Anderson, 1941;K6nig and Wsinklei, 1948;Bringmann, 1950Bringmann, -1951, Staphylococcuis flaomcyaneuis and iVeisseria m2eningitidis (Knaysi and Mudd, 1943), and Bacillus mycoides (Knaysi and Bakei-, 1947). Konig and Winkler pioved the identity of the electron-scattering granules with the metachromatic volutin granules by examining the same Neisser stained film first by the light microscope and then by the electron microscope.…”