The Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol 12, Issue 2 239-243, Copyright © 1979 by Society for General Microbiology
Induction of reversion from the L-form to the sporogenous phase of Bacillus licheniformis var. endoparasiticus (Benedek)
R. Bartlett and K. A. Bisset
The rate of reversion from the L-form to the complete bacillus phase of
Bacillus licheniformis var. endoparasiticus (BLE)was increased by a factor
of c. x20, by growth in the presence of 1% diaminopimelic acid in a well
plate, and c. x25 with a 1% hog gastric mucin spread on the plate surface.
Saturated riboflavin solution and growth products of staphylococci in wells
had a lesser effect. The revertants were subsequently stable when isolated
in the absence of additive. The rate of reversion from a spheroplast to a
diphtheroid phase was not significantly altered by these additives. These
findings are of practical value in studies to distinguish between the BLE
sporing bacillus and postulated phases of the organism that include
diphtheroid and spheroplast L-forms and debated mycoplasma-like forms.
