Bacterial interference with L-forms

Survival of Escherichia coli under lethal heat stress by L-form conversion

Transition of bacteria to cell wall deficient L-forms in response to stress factors has been assumed as a potential mechanism for survival of microbes under unfavorable conditions. In this article, we provide evidence of paradoxal survival through L-form conversion of E. coli high cell density population after lethal treatments (boiling or autoclaving). Light and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated conversion from classical rod to polymorphic L-form shape morphology and atypical growths of E. coli. Microcrystal formations observed at this stage were interpreted as being closely linked to the processes of L-form conversion and probably involved in the general phenomenon of protection against lethal environment. Identity of the morphologically modified L-forms as E. coli was verified by species specific DNA-based test. Our study might contribute to a better understanding of the L-form phenomenon and its importance for bacterial survival, as well as provoke reexamination of the traditional view of killing strategies against bacteria.

Exhibition of persistent and drug-tolerant L-form habit of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during infection in rats

A model for studying mycobacterial L-form formation in vivo was established to demonstrate the ability of M. tuberculosis to behave as a drug-tolerant L-form persister. Rats were infected by intranasal (i.n.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) routes with 1×108 cells/ml of M. tuberculosis. At weekly intervals during a period of five weeks, samples from lung, spleen, liver, kidney, mesenterial and inguinal lymph nodes, broncho-alveolar and peritoneal lavage liquid were plated simultaneously on Löwenstein-Jensen (LJ) medium or inoculated into specially supplemented for L-forms Dubos broth (drug-free and drug-containing variants). The use of liquid media enabled isolation of mycobacterial L-form cultures during the whole period of experiment including the last two weeks, when tubercle bacilli were not isolated on LJ medium. An unique feature of mycobacterial L-forms was their ability to grow faster than the classical tubercle bacilli. Isolation and growth of L-form cultures in primary drug-containing media demonstrated their drug-tolerant properties. Electron microscopy of liquid media isolates showed that they consisted of morphologically heterogenous populations of membrane-bound and of variable sized L-bodies that completely lack cell walls. The identity of the isolated non-acid fast and morphologically modified L-forms as M. tuberculosis was verified by specific spoligotyping test. The results contribute to special aspects concerning the importance of mycobacterial L-form phenomenon for persistence and latency in tuberculosis, phenotypic drug tolerance, as well as for diagnosis of difficult to identify morphologically changed tubercle bacilli which are often mistaken for contaminants.