A Study of Chromobacterium typhiflavum from the Rat

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Abstract
Summary: Two strains of an organism possessing unusual morphological features have been isolated from the rat. Aggregations of individual cells into discrete spherical ‘large bodies’ are found. These bodies appear in chain forms. The nature of the matrix binding the cells is not known. Individual young cells are motile by peritrichous flagella, swarm in soft agar and are Gram negative. Sections of cells show a typically Gram negative cell wall and mode of division. The cell surface appears convoluted in the Gram negative manner. Well defined buds continuous with the cell wall have been demonstrated and many cells contain crystalloid and peripheral bodies. The organisms ferment a wide variety of carbohydrates and are aerobic and facultative anaerobes. These organisms appear to fit the description of Chromobacterium typhiflavum; however the ability to form regular aggregates, containing cells distinct from the ‘vegetative’ form, and to form buds would indicate that this organism should be placed in a new genus.

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