PLEOMORPHISM IN BACTERIAL CELLS

2. GIANT CELL FORMATION IN PEDIOCOCCUS CEREVISIAE INDUCED BY HOP-RESINS

Abstract

It was shown that the cells of Pediococcus cerevesiae (the so-called beer-sarcina), when grown in the presence of hop-resins and under anaerobic conditions in CO₂-atmosphere, form giant cells having a diameter up to 15 microns. The giant cell contains chromatin-like bodies of various forms and is surrounded by a fragile cell wall stainable with tannic acid and crystal violet. Like the normal cells they are Gram-positive, but this property is lost when the cells are previously heated at 60° for 10 minutes.