Flagella on Protozoa and Algae 



Reference has been made in the preface to the flagella on 

 protozoa and algae. The author has not studied these organisms 

 in detail using flagella staining techniques. With many of these 

 organisms fixation techniques different from those used with bac- 

 teria have to be employed not to damage the soma. The typical 

 appearance of flagella of algae is illustrated in Fig. 69j showing 

 Chlamydomonas sp. This type of flagella is similar to the undulant 

 flagella found on some bacteria. Protozoa such as Trichomonas 

 have the same type of flagella. The typical helical flagella found 

 on bacteria evidently are not characteristic of the flagella on pro- 

 tozoa and algae. The organism shown in Fig. 69k is unidentified 

 but definitely nonbacterial. Except for the long wavelength of 

 about 6 microns the flagellum is very similar to those on some bac- 

 teria. In Fig. 691 is illustrated a most unusual(?) and interesting 

 type of flagellation on a protozoan or algal organism. CiHated 

 flagella of the type shown may not be so unusual if proper staining 

 methods are used. 



Fig. 69. a, b, c , d, e, f . Mixed polar monotrichous and peritrichous flagel- 

 lation. 



Note the longer wavelength of the polar flagellum. In f the polar flagellum 

 is missing. This organism was isolated from water, showed a cream colored 

 or slightly yellowish growth on agar, and was nonfermentative. If regarded 

 as peritrichous it could be classified as either Achromobacter or as Flavo- 

 bacterium. If regarded as polar flagellated it would be classified as Pseudo- 

 monas or Xanthomoruis. Mixed flagellation poses a difficult taxonomic prob- 

 lem but fortunately it is rather rare. 



g. This illustration shows two short filaments of a basically polar multi- 

 trichous organism. It may be mistaken for a peritrichous type but such types 

 rarely show several flagella originating from one point on the soma as in the 

 illustration. This organism was stained directly from river water. 



h, i. These two illustrations are of a nitrogen-fixing organism received 

 from E. Gray in England. The short filament shown in i is a mutant of the 

 polar monotrichous organism illustrated in h. In pure culture the filamentous 

 form could readily be mistaken for a peritrichous type. 



j. Chlamydomonas sp. Note the undulant and somewhat irregularly shaped 

 flagella. 



k. An unidentified, nonbacterial organism from water. Except for the long 

 flagellar wavelength the flagellum is not unlike some found on bacteria. 



1. A nonbacterial organism from water with a most unusual (?) type of 

 flagellation. The trunk of the flagellum has the typical undulant shape. The 

 cilia-like structures covering the flagellar trunk are not artifacts. 



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