The ability of various compounds to support swarming of Proteus was determined by making additions to a minimal medium agar on which swarming did not occur. Swarming occurred when alanine, asparagine aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glutamine, proline or serine were present, either individually or together. It did not occur when certain other amino acids were added individually to minimal medium agar but did occur when these were added together. The ability of a compound to support swarming was correlated with its ability to serve as a carbon+energy source and with the stimulation of growth rate. The swarming phenomenon is discussed in the light of these findings.
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