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. 1979 May;37(5):924–927. doi: 10.1128/aem.37.5.924-927.1979

Evidence that bacteria can form new cells in airborne particles.

R L Dimmick, H Wolochow, M A Chatigny
PMCID: PMC243325  PMID: 384900

Abstract

Serratia marcescens incubated for 8 h at 31 degrees C in a chemically defined medium contained in shake flasks was aerosolized into rotating-drum aerosol chambers at 30 degrees C and saturated humidity. Cells furnished tryptone (Difco) and glycerol just before aerosolization increased (in viable numbers and countable cells) almost twofold within 1 to 2 h after becoming airborne, whereas cells not furnished additional tryptone decreased in viable numbers at a faster rate than the number of particles removed by gravitational settling. Limited tests with a Coulter Counter showed that cell volume changes occurred in growing cells that did not occur in the nongrowing population.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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