Effects of some chemical factors on flagellation and swarming of Vibrio alginolyticus

Abstract

Vibrio alginolyticus strains recently isolated from Dutch coastal seawater changed flagellar organization when cultivated in the presence of certain chemical agents. On agar media with more than 4.0% (w/v) NaCl the number of lateral flagella per cell decreased with increasing salt concentration. Both on agar media and in broth cultures with 6.0-9.0% (w/v) NaCl, cells with polar tufts of 2-4 sheathed or unsheathed flagella were frequently found. Cells grown on agar media with 7.3-9.8% (w/v) Na2SO4 had drastically reduced numbers of lateral flagella, but lacked polar tufts. EDTA suppressed growth, but did not affect flagellar arrangement. In the presence of 0.1-0.3% boric acid or 0.05-0.1% aluminum hydroxide, cells in liquid media tended to produce lateral, in addition to the polar flagella normally observed in broth cultures. Of a number of surface-active agents tested, Tween 80 and Na-taurocholate, even in high concentrations, did not affect flagellation. Bile salts (0.1%) and Na deoxycholate (0.05%) strongly reduced the number of both polar and lateral flagella. In agar cultures, Na-lauryl sulphate (0.01-0.1%) inhibited the formation of lateral, but increased the incidence of polar flagella. Teepol (0.05-0.2%) had a similar effect and also it had a deteriorating effect on the sheaths of the polar flagella. Concomitant with the reduction in the number of lateral flagella, induced by these agents, swarming on agar media was inhibited.