[Electron microscopic study of the cells of variants of Bacillus thuringiensis var. galleriae forming colonies with altered morphology].

Colonial-morphological variants of Bacillus thuringiensis var. Galleriae were studied by electron microscopy. The S variant was found to be asporogenous, whereas the R variant produced mature spores. Morphological modifications in the cell were followed in the course of sporulation. Spores were shown to have thin filamentous and tubular protrusions which had not been so far described in crystalliferous bacteria. Preparations from colonies of the R variant contained peculiar structures which resembled phage tails. A possible function of these structures is discussed.