Figure 6
From: Multiple bacterial partners in symbiosis with the nudibranch mollusk Rostanga alisae
TEM images of epithelium cells and adjacent mucous layer of Rostanga alisae inhabited by exosymbiontic bacteria. (A) Bacteria having a long contact stalk-like extension directed towards the apical membrane of epithelial cells (white arrow). Dark arrows indicate similar bacteria, which are present both in the mucous layer and in vacuoles near the apical membrane of the integumentary epithelial cells. (B) The bacterium with a long process (dark arrows) in contact with the surface of the microvilli (cross section) of the integumentary epithelial cells. (C) Long rods localized between the microvilli (mv) of the integumentary epithelial cells. The arrow indicates the site of adhesion of the bacterial cell to the outer cell membrane. (D) Large bacteria with numerous electron-translucent vacuoles (dark arrow) (E) Processes of branching bacteria on the surface and in the cytoplasm of cilliated cells of the foot epidermis (dark arrows); branched processes are visible bearing spore-like vesicles on the surface (light arrow). Cilia (c) and microvilli (mv) are visible.
