title: On the pathogenicity of nonstable Brucella L-forms and their revertants.
abstract: The pathogenicity of B. abortus 870 L-forms obtained by long-term passaging of virulent culture on media with penicillin and of revertants obtained in vitro and in vivo was studied. L-form cultures stimulated only a mild response of the reticulo-endothelial system of the animal organism, at the same time displaying a certain level of toxicity. In vitro revertants approximated to L-forms, while in vivo revertants stood closer to the initial virulent culture, as regards pathogenicity. This seems to be evidence of a potential danger of brucella L-forms for the human and animal organisms.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002003:Brucella abortus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D003470:Culture Media; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000032:analysis; D007740:L Forms / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D010406:Penicillins