[Lipid composition of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and its L forms]

Studied was comparatively the lipid composition of two strains of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae--A826-S and A973-S as well as the stable L-forms obtained from it and a form reverted back to the initial phenotypic state. All investigated organisms showed the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidyl-glycerol, cardiolipin, and small amounts of phosphatidylserine. Essential quantitative differences were found with cardiolipin which was about 25 per cent for the initial strains while its amount for the L-forms its amount reached 50 per cent and more. The reverted strain was shown to have a phospholipid profile close to that of the L-forms. Identified were 13 fatty acids with an even and odd number of carbon atoms as well as acids with double links. With both L-forms there was an increase in the amount of the lower fatty acids (up to C-15). A strong drop was observed of the palmitic acid (16:0). Discussed are the differences in the lipid composition of the L-forms with regard to their changed morphology and the capacity to survive without a cell wall.