The effect of gravitational forces on the viability of spheroplasts of mycobacteria.

Spheroplasts of Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis were subjected to a wide range of centrifugal forces ranging from 583 g to 15 000 g after which their viability was determined by plating them on two types of media; one containing stabilizing agents and the other without them. Though there were minor fluctuations in the viable counts, there was no consistent decrease in their viability even in the absence of osmotic stabilizers.