Streptomycetes cultured on glass beads:: Sample preparation for SEM

We demonstrate the preparation of samples of streptomycetes (Streptomyces coelicolor, S. aureofaciens) cultured on glass beads (balotina) for scanning electron microscopy. The main trick of the method consists in immobilization of glass beads with low-melting agarose. The samples are then fixed in OsO4 vapors followed by dehydration in vapors of absolute ethanol. No air-to-liquid transition during the sample preparation occurs. Consequently, whole cell cycle of streptomycetes in the term of mycelial morphology can readily be studied by this method. (C) 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.