Structural features of Spirochetes
- Spirochetes have a unique structure: responsible for motility
- The spirochete cell has a central protoplasmic cylinder bounded by a plasma membrane and a typical gram-negative cell wall.
- Unlike in other bacilli, this cylinder is enveloped by an outer membrane composed of glycolipids and lipoproteins.
- Between the peptidoglycan and the outer sheath are located multiple periplasmic flagella: do not protrude from the cell but are oriented axially.