Methylcellulose and Bacterial Motility

Biochemical and Symbiotic Properties of the Rhizobia 1

“…That the type of flagellation cannot be used as a criterion of species identification appears conclusive (84). Electron micrographs of the flagella (31,84) lend no support to the recent hypothesis of Pijper (272,273).…”

Helical Fine Structure of Flagella of a Motile Diphtheroid

“…Studies on the nature of the bacterial flagella have received considerable impetus from the hypothesis advanced by Pijper (1947) that flagella are not the locomotor organs of bacteria, but are merely "mucous twirls" trailing from the cell surface. A considerable body of criticism has arisen (Houwink and van Iterson, 1950) challenging Pijper's viewpoint.…”

Flagellum and Motility of Spirillum Serpens

“…Various colloid solutions have different effects on different bacteria. Methylcellulose slowed down young S. serpens just as it did S. typhosa (Pijper, 1947) but had no effect on S. volutans (Pijper, 1949a). On S. serpens it had two separate effects: It slowed down movement through increased viscosity and it precipitated onto the bodies and flagella, causing first a granular precipitate (figure 6) and later a continuous sheath (figure 7) making the flagellum more conspicuous, but preserving the curious shape and making it more difficult to get wound round the body (figure 8).…”