Bleb Formation on the Cell Envelope of Osmotic Shocked Cells of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Vibrio parahaemolyticus cells are known to lyse in distilled water on account of their osmotic fragility. When V. parahaemolyticus cells were subjected to osmotic shock, blebs were formed on cell envelopes, mainly at the septa of dividing cells and polar regions. Some of the blebs appeared to be detached from the cell surface to form vesicles. Our results indicate that surface blebs and vesicles formed by osmotic shock mainly involve the outer membrane. Although the cytoplasmic membrane itself is not released, its permeability barrier is disrupted.