THE FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE BODIES IN PROTEUS VULGARIS OX-19 I

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Abstract
Large-body formation in a single cell culture may occur by the formation of a lateral or terminal bud that increases in size and "absorbs" the rod, by the swelling of a rod, or by the fusion of 2 adjacent rods. Cell fusion usually begins by the appearance of a bud at the junction of the 2 rods, and the bud enlarges as the contents of the rods pass into it. The bud may also occur terminally on one of a pair of rods. Other variations of cell fusion have been observed. There is no evidence that these cell fusions represent a sexual process. Large bodies develop by dividing to produce bacilli, a micro-colony of large bodies, or by rupturing, with the subsequent formation of retractile, granular forms. These granules are coccoid bodies ranging from 0.2 to 0.5[mu] in diam. They do not appear to be preformed in the large body. Their mode of origin and reproduction is not known. Some large bodies undergo no further development or lyse without the formation of granular forms. The large bodies produced by the fusion of two rods develop in the same ways as those that form from a single rod. Large bodies normally form in small numbers at any time during growth, but the number formed can be increased by culturing at 2[degree]C for 4-30 days. Low temp. treatment of the bacteria appears to be almost essential for the production of granular forms. They are produced rarely or not at all when the culture is kept at room temperature. Sufficient evidence is not yet available to consider these diverse morphological forms as phases of a complex life cycle.

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