Expert: Walter Hintz - 2/8/2006

Question
had a project concerning an in depth description on the bacteria Salmonella typhi which causes typhiod fever. I need to know if it is possible for a bacteria to grow by itself. What i mean by that is does every cell necessarily have to grow in pairs(diplo-), chains (staphylo-), and bunches (strepto-)?

If so, what is the growth pattern for Salmonella typhi. From my research, I found that the shape is bacilli, but i can't find a growth pattern.


Answer
Hi Cesar.
 On special media S typhi grows in circular colonies but the individual bacteria are separate. There is no pattern.A few species of Salmonella are non motile and will form chains.  S. typhi however have flagella and are motile bacilli.  Incidentally strepto refers to chains and staph refers to clumps.