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Filterability of Streptococcal L-Forms

¹ Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514

ABSTRACT

The filterability of the broth-grown stable L-form derived from Streptococcus faecium F24 was tested by filtration under the influence of varying amounts of applied pressure. A decrease in the pore size of the filter resulted in a corresponding decrease in viable count, but no major effect was noted due to the different pressures applied. Serial filtration of a deoxyribonuclease-treated L-form culture in the mid-logarithmic phase of growth resulted in recovery of viable L-forms from the 0.45-µm filtrate but not from the 0.22-µm filtrate. It is possible that disruption of the L-form bodies with release of small viable elements had occurred. Protoplasts, diluted in an osmotic stabilizer, were filtered similarly; L-forms could be grown from the filtrate passing through the filters of 0.45 µm or greater. Filtration of the parent streptococci gave rise to streptococcal colonies from the 1.2-µm filtrate only.