SEXUALITY IN BACTERIA II5 



H: SEXUAL FUSION IN PROTEUS AND 

 STREPTOBACILLUS 



(13) 



It has been stated that Strcptobacilltis moniliformis is capable of reproduction 

 by the formation of spore-hkc bodies arising from swollen sporangia upon 

 the filaments of the bacteria. These bodies are clanned to be sexual in origin, 

 forming in other bacteria, including Proteus, at the edges o^ swarms where 

 these make contact with other, similar swarms. 



This interpretation will be discussed in Chapter VII. 



® (5 © Qi 



Formation and maturation of the resting stage in the anaerobic actinomycete Spherophorus, 

 according to Prevot. The resemblance between this process and that described independently 

 for Actinomyces bovis is most striking (compare Fig. 51). 



/.• SUMMARY 



A well-marked process ot autogamous or sexual fusion accompanies the 

 the formation ot the resting nucleus in all groups ot bacteria. 



In sporing bacilli and streptomyces a longitudinal, rod-shaped fusion 

 nucleus is formed, and from it haploid spores arise. In the case of the sporing 

 bacilli the reduction process is very obvious, and precedes spore maturation. 



In myxobacteria and non-sporing eubactena the nucleus divides and 

 reconjugates. The two gametes contain spherical, central nuclei, and fuse 

 to form a microcyst containing a vesicular, resting nucleus. The vegetative 

 bacterium is haploid and the reduction process precedes the maturation of 

 the microcyst. A similar process has been recorded in the anaerobic actino- 

 myces, and a reduction division occurs during maturation. 



