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Differentiation of the Vegetative and Sporogenous Phases
The Partially Acid-fast Proactinomycetes
Abstract
Summary: About three hundred strains of proactinomycetes were isolated from Rothamsted soils and examined together with certain strains from the National Collection of Type Cultures and other sources. Although little more than 9% were partially acid-fast on immediate isolation, subcultivation on rich media such as milk or nutrient glucose broth increased the percentage to 31%. The strains showed a range of features, from the soft mycobacterial type of growth with transient vegetative mycelium and very sparse aerial mycelium, if any, to the harder, more actinomycete-like variety. Of the acid-fast species Proactinomyces opacus, Proactinomyces salmoni-color, and Proactinomyces paraffinae predominated. In all, ninety-two strains were observed continuously for nearly two years on a variety of complex and simple media, and were stained at frequent intervals. Acid-fast cell elements occurred more often in complex protein- and fat-containing media, and in chemically defined media containing paraffin or large quantities of glycerol. They varied in shape and size according to the species and the age and quality of the growth. It is thought that differences of permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane in different environments may account for these variations. No evidence was obtained of any “resting spores? or “chlamydospores? in the vegetative mycelium. Since there are no true spores in the aerial mycelium when it is present, the proactinomycetes in general may be regarded as asporogenous.
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© Society for General Microbiology, 1949