This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Higgins, M. L. Articles by Lechevalier, H. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Higgins, M. L. Articles by Lechevalier, H. A.

Flagellated Actinomycetes

Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, New Jersey

ABSTRACT

Shadowed motile elements from actinomycetes were observed with an electron microscope. Included were three strains of Actinoplanes, two of Ampullariella, two of Dermatophilus, two of Spirillospora, and four of "Nocardia" turbata. In addition, three types of previously undescribed actionmycetes were represented: (i) the C₄ group (four strains) forming substrate mycelium breaking into motile rods; (ii) strain 9-41, forming Microellobosporia-like sporangia with motile spores; and (iii) strain P₂, forming aerial hyphae releasing motile cocci when put in water. All the known chemical cell wall types of actinomycetes except the Nocardia asteroides type and the Actinomyces israeli type were represented in this array of motile actinomycetes. Motile elements were, depending on the genus, cocci, rods (often curved), or pyriform. Flagella were always in tufts (or single), never peritrichous. A relationship seems to exist between the location of the tuft and the cell wall composition. The spores of one strain of Actinoplanes were herniated, thus resembling plasmoptysis forms of bacteria.