Response of developing branched bacteria to adverse environments. II. Micromorphological effects of lysozyme on some aerobic actinomycetes.

An early symptom of lysozyme treatment of developing actinomycete microcolonies is hyphal tip swelling, illustrating the plasticity of this region in relation to filament extension. The reaction is not limited to true mycelia of Streptomyces, Streptoverticillium and Rhodococcus but is also characteristic of unbranched filaments of actinomycetes exposed during their elongation stage. On the other hand rods whose extension has ceased and which are undergoing fragmentation do not show any localized weakness but a generalized lysis. Results are discussed with reference to polarity of growth in actinomycetes.