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Database Central
Wastewater Organisms Database
Sphaerotilus natans
Purpose of Web Page
The purpose of this web page is to present the physical characteristics of a filamentous bacteria that is present in wastewater. Sphaerotilus natans is a colonial type of bacteria. When the bacteria divide they do not separate and become individual cells that can roam around by themselves. Sphaerotilus natans cells cling to each other and form a filament. Thus the term filamentous bacteria. One of the characteristics that is inherent to S natans is that every once in a while the cells branch out from the main filament. This branching can be utilized in the identification of S natans under the microscope.
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Sphaerotilus natans is perhaps one of the easiest filamentous bacteria that can be identified under the microscope. There are only two filaments that have branching. Nocardia has what is termed "true branching" whereas Sphaerotilus natans has what is termed "false branching". This photographs was taken at a magnification of 100x using a phase contrast microscope. Notice the bridging that is occuring between flocs. The bridging is important because it increases the surface area of flocs and adds to its settleability. |
Sphaerotilus natans is best described as a long filament that is between 100-1000 µm in length and is usually straight to smoothly curved. The cells are rod-shaped and are about 0.7-1.0 µm wide and 1.0-2.0 µm long. The cells have a sheath that sorrounds them. Sphaerotilus natans is Gram negative and is Neisser negative. Attached growth is rare. This photographs was taken at a magnification of 100x using a phase contrast microscope. |
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This photographs was taken at a magnification of 1000x using a phase contrast microscope. Notice the branching that is inherent of Sphaerotilus natans. The rod-shaped cells are branching out. The two cells that are touching do not share the same cytoplasm. If the cell had branched out and its cytoplasm continued into the divergence this would be termed "true branching". Since the two cells are just juxtoposed to each other this is "false branching". Visit the Nocardia and Fungi page to see "true branching". A lone trichome of Nocardia can be observed at the bottom portion of the photo. |
Sphaerotilus natans| Nocardia| Fungi| Microthrix parvicella| Filament 021N
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Date Page Last Revised:19 January 2000.
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