Motility as a Selective Force in the Reversion of Cystic Fibrosis-Associated Mucoid <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> to the Nonmucoid Phenotype in Culture

Abstract

Motility acted as a strong positive selection for nonmucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa in unshaken cultures. Consistent with this finding, electron microscopic examination of mucoid and nonmucoid revertant strains indicated that the mucoid cells were nonflagellated whereas the nonmucoid revertants were flagellated.