[Localization and possible development cycle of mycoplasmas and bacterial L-forms in cell cultures]

Using vital stain chlorazol-black E the authors studied the localization and behaviour of 5 mycoplasma species and the stable L-form of beta-hemolytic streptococcus of group A in various continuous cell lines. Mycoplasmas and L-forms had a definite evolution cycle in the cells. At first they are arranged extracellularly and on the surface of the cells, and then intracellularly where they multiply intensively; later they are again localized on the surface of the cells and extracellularly. This cycle proved to depend on the type of infection. The character of the localization depended on the type of the causative agent and of the culture.