Structural Visualization of Septum Formation in Staphylococcus warneri Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Abstract

This work shows that the septum of Staphylococcus warneri is composed of two layers and that the peptidoglycan on the inner surface of the double-layered septum is organized into concentric rings. Moreover, new cell cycles of S. warneri can be initiated before the previous cell cycle is complete. This work advances our knowledge about a basic structure of bacterial cell and provides information on the double-layered structure of the septum for bacteria that divide with the “popping” mechanism.