Monster Mystery: Lake Monster or Infectious Disease?

This is an electron microscopy of an infectious organism from a cell culture. Which of the following organisms is the most likely pictured in this photo?

  1. Campylobacter jejuni

  2. Corynebacterium diphtheriae

  3. Ebola virus

  4. The Loch Ness Monster

  5. Treponema pallidum

  6. Rhabdovirus

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Answer: E. Trepanema pallidum  - a spiral bacterium (spirochete)

 

Campylobacter jejuni appear as curved or seagull-shaped rods.

Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria group together in the form of a letter "V", a palisade arrangement, or "Chinese letters".

Ebola virus - ebolavirus virions are filamentous particles that may may be coiled or branched and often appear in the shape of a either a shepherd's crook, the letter "U", or a number "6”.

Treponema pallidum – spiral bacterium (spirochete)

The Lake Ness Monster – has a similar appearance to the picture but would not be seen on electron microscopy! or at all, for that matter! 

Rhabdovirus is a bullet-shaped negative(-) sense ssRNA virus.

 

Related Mnemonic:  BaroneMnemonic: Syphilis

 Photo Credit: CDC / Dr. David Cox

Category: Microbiology Mnemonics

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