THE TRANSFORMATION OF TYPHOID BACILLI INTO L FORMS UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS

Abstract

That L type cultures can be isolated from Salmonella typhosa and many other bacterial species on agar plates containing high concentrations of penicillin was reported in previous papers (Dienes, 1948a,b, 1949). Transformation into L forms was observed under various other conditions. It often occurred as a result of spontaneous autolysis of cultures (Dienes, 1942). In Proteus, refrigera-tion of the cultures, antagonism between strains, and exposure to tap water resulted in the development of these forms (Dienes, 1949). The study of the conditions inducing L transformation has extended over many years. The be-havior of various bacilli and cocci was studied in the presence of bacteriostatic agents and after exposure to injuries that bacteria encounter in their natural life. Since the studies in Proteus were reported, most significant observations have been made in S. typhosa. In this species L forms developed upon exposure of the bacilli to various types of chemical injuries, to antibody and complement, and to bacteriophage. Observations relating to the conditions in which typhoid bacilli were transformed into L forms are presented in this paper. In the following