title: Listeria monocytogenes L forms. I. Induction maintenance, and biological characteristics.
abstract: L forms were induced from 15 of 16 strains of Listeria monocytogenes on penicillin gradient plates incubated under aerobic conditions. The culture medium for maintenance of these L forms must contain an electrolyte in a concentration of 1% or sucrose in a concentration of 10%. The electrolytes NaCl, KCl, or MgSO(4) were used in both induction and maintenance media. Induction of L forms occurred more rapidly on media containing KCl. Listeria L forms had the same fermentation reactions as the parent bacterium. The L-form growth in liquid medium was slow, not extensive, and appeared as clumps on the bottom of culture tubes. The morphology of Listeria L forms was similar to that reported for other bacterial L forms. The L forms derived from strain 10403, serotype 1, were stable after two or more passages on penicillin media. They did not revert to the bacterial form after 40 subcultures on penicillin-free media. Some L-form colonies derived from strain 10403 did revert to the bacterial form when transferred directly from induction plates to penicillin-free media. Studies of the growth characteristics for L forms derived from strain 10403 gave the following results: an optimal temperature of 30 C, high electrolyte or sucrose concentration necessary for induction and maintenance, and no requirement for serum.
mesh_terms: D002122:Calcium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D003470:Culture Media; D007740:L Forms; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000187:drug effects; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D010406:Penicillins; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013395:Sucrose; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D002122:Calcium Chloride