CRITICAL FACTORS INFLUENCING GROWTH OF L FORMS OF PROTEUS MIRABILIS

Abstract

The 3A type L form of P. mirabilis gives rise to the 3B type L form during prolonged incubation, and this conversion of colony morphology is a function of both time and temperature of incubation. During auto-claving of complete medium, a substance inhibiting the growth of 3B type L forms from an inoculum of cells is produced. Analysis of the interaction of various components of the medium showed that the 3B inhibitor is generated during autoclave sterilization of glucose at alkaline pH in the presence of phosphate buffer salts. On the basis of reconstruction experiments, this inhibitor was tentatively identified as formic acid. Both hypertonicity produced by 0.3 [image] sodium succinate and high penicillin concentrations effectively antagonized the action of the 3B inhibitor. Some effects of medium composition on the total yield of 3A type L colonies from a given inoculum of cells are presented.