The Globular Involution Forms of the Bifid Bacteria

Abstract

SUMMARY: The globular swellings known to appear occasionally in cultures of the bifid bacteria have been shown to occur in all known types of Lactobacillus bifidus. The swellings developed on a substrate which permitted abundant growth. The development of the globular involution forms was prevented by the addition of tryptic digest of cow’s milk to the substrate. The similarity between the globular forms of L. bifidus and protoplasts is mentioned. The globular forms are considered to be organisms with incomplete cell walls which develop on a substrate adequate for growth but not for normal cell wall synthesis.