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?
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Campylobacter jejuni
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Corynebacterium diphtheriae
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Ebola virus
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The Loch Ness Monster
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Treponema pallidum
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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