THE PREDOMINANCE OF COUNTERCLOCKWISE ROTATION DURING SWARMING OF BACILLUS SPECIES

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Abstract
The swarming of bacilli when grown on the surface of an agar plate was studied carefully observing the growth of B. circulans, B. alvei and B. sphaericus var. rotans. A direct relationship between swarming and motility in fluid medium was observed. Counts of the rotating colonies showed in each species a greater proportion turning in the counter-clockwise direction, in the ratio of about 2:1. A similar ratio was observed in the curves taken by the bullet-shaped colonies. The curving tendency of terminal filaments around colonies of 14 strains of B. cereux var. mycoides was studied for comparison. In 8 strains this was predominantly counterclockwise, and in 6 clockwise, the ratio for all being about 3 : 1. The tendency to move in regular curves is believed to be an inherent property of an organism.