Induction and Characteristics of Staphylococcal L Forms

Staphylococcal L forms revealed characteristics not observed previously. The ability to produce coagulase was retained by the variant. In the presence of blood, many L forms were found within red cells, comparable with the intraerythrocytic stages reported for streptococci. Agar lysis was a unique characteristic of the mature L form.Inhibitors were not required to initiate the L stage and the variant and classical form grew commensally on enriched media. As nutrition was simplified, the L stage was supported, whereas the classical form did not reproduce. A small inoculum resulted in exclusive growth of L forms even in media containing special growth factors. The relative ease with which the L forms are produced experimentally suggests that this phase of growth may occur in vivo.