Dienes phenomenon, when two identical Proteus cultures are inoculated at different points on the same plate of non-inhibitory medium, the resulting swarming of growth coalesce without signs of demarcation.
[1][2] When, however, two different strains of Proteus are inoculated, the spreading films of growth fail to coalesce and remain separated by a narrow easily visible area.
[2] The observation of this appearance, the Dienes phenomenon has been used to determine the identity or non-identity of strains in epidemiological studies.
This bacteria-related article is a stub.
You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.