Effects of related anionic detergents on flagellation, motility, swarming, and growth of Proteus.

The effects of a series of sodium alkyl sulfates (C(4) to C(16)) on flagellation, motility, swarming, and growth of Proteus were examined. The concentrations of the various sodium alkyl sulfates completely inhibiting the swarming phenomenon (on solid medium) and motility (in liquid medium) were in the same order of magnitude. The inhibiting effect of the detergents examined increased from sodium hexyl sulfate (inhibitory concentration, 20 to 30 mmoles per liter) to sodium tetradecyl sulfate (inhibitory concentration, 0.1 to 0.5 mmoles per liter). Flagella were produced neither in liquid nor on solid medium at these concentrations as could be observed by electron microscopy. At concentrations where motility was not impaired, intact flagellation could be observed. At a concentration of 0.1 mmole per liter, sodium tetradecyl sulfate completely inhibited the motility of Proteus in the liquid medium employed without impairing growth.