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S ummary . Proteus spp. formed discrete colonies on a simple nutrient agar. This lack of swarming was neither a function of electrolyte deficiency nor of low osmotic pressure. If electrolytes and certain carbohydrates were added to such a medium the organism swarmed. Growth studies showed that 0.5% (w/v) NaCl or 2.86% (w/v) dulcitol promoted greater growth than 2.9% (w/v) glucose. Amongst the 9 genera tested only Proteus and Serratia grew better in the presence of NaCl. It is suggested that this growth enhancement is a factor in causing Proteus to swarm.
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P. G. D. Naylor (1964) studied this question.
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