Examination of Mycobacterium avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis for the Formation of Organic Films in Culture

Presenter Information

Cody Waisanen, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Location

CSU Ballroom

Start Date

21-4-2008 1:00 PM

End Date

21-4-2008 3:00 PM

Student's Major

Biological Sciences

Student's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Mentor's Name

Timothy Secott

Mentor's Department

Biological Sciences

Mentor's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Second Mentor's Name

Michael Bentley

Second Mentor's Department

Biological Sciences

Second Mentor's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Description

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Mpt) is the causative agent of Johne's Disease, a chronic, often fatal intestinal disease of cattle. Little is known about how Mpt is able to survive outside of the animal host. In our laboratory. Mpt has been observed, to form sheet-like structures in extended culture, This may suggest that Mpt can form a biofilm which may enable it to survive in the environment. The purpose of this study was to observe the structural organization of this matrix. To determine the presence of structure, the organisms were presented with a surface upon which they could adhere. Upon examination by scanning electron microscopy, several cell morphologies were noted, along with a strand-like material linking one organism to another. Coccoid cells, coccobacilli, and bacilli, along with irregularly shaped objects which may represent cell remnants, were found to be massed together. Voids which seemed to appear at regular intervals within the matrix were also observed. The morphology of cells which formed the exterior of the voids were more commonly coccoid.