FORMATION OF SPHEROPLASTS OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS IN TISSUE CULTURE CELLS

Abstract

Tissue culture techniques combined with phase and electron microscopy were used to follow the morphologic changes in the R1Rv strain of M. tuberculosis. When the organisms were phagocytized in a system containing lysozyme in a concentration having no effect on the growth of the J-111 line of human monocyte or the extracellular bacilli, a pronounced swelling of the organism was noted. On the 4th day following infection of the tissue cells, spherical structures were seen that appeared to be spheroplasts induced by exposure of the organisms to elevated concentrations of lysozyme during phagocytosis; they are believed to bear a relationship to the "large bodies" of the L-forms.