Evidence that bacteria can form new cells in airborne particles

Abstract

Serratia marcescens incubated for 8 h at 31°C in a chemically defined medium contained in shake flasks was aerosolized into rotating-drum aerosol chambers at 30°C and saturated humidity. Cells furnished tryptone (Difco) and glycerol just before aerosolisation 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.