Spring-shaped cell of hiochi-lactobacillus

Hetero-fermentative hiochi-lactobacillus H 34 occasionally formed spiral cells when grown in a medium containing 7% ethanol. The cells and their sections were electron microscopically observed. The spiral form was characteristic of strain H 34: other hiochi-lactobacilli and Lactobacillus fermentum NRIC 1531 never produced such cells under the examined conditions. The helix on strain H 34 rotated one to seven turns to the left. A single cell, between two normal cells, became slender and made one to seven left-handed turns forming a very compact helix.