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When the protocol that we had used to demonstrate a single division of bacterial cells in airborne particles was changed to one that increased the glycerol content of the atomizer fluid from 1 to 5% (vol/vol), thus producing larger particles, more than two (and nearly three) divisions of bacteria occurred within 6 h of aerosol time.

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