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Growth and adhesion of Enterococcus faecium L-forms
J Jass1, L E Phillips, E J Allan
1Department of Biological Sciences, Hatherly Laboratories, University of Exeter, UK.
FEMS Microbiology Letters
|January 15, 1994
Summary
Enterococcus faecium L-forms exhibit slower growth and reduced surface attachment compared to their parent cells. This study provides insights into bacterial adaptation and potential mechanisms for evading treatments.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
Background:
- Enterococcus faecium can exist in cell-walled and cell-wall-deficient (L-form) states.
- Understanding L-form behavior is crucial for novel therapeutic strategies against persistent infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the growth and surface colonization abilities of Enterococcus faecium L-forms and their parent cell-walled forms.
- To investigate the potential of L-forms in forming sessile cells and biofilms.
Main Methods:
- Culturing of Enterococcus faecium L-forms and parent cells in liquid media.
- Quantification of growth rates and lag phases.
- Assessment of bacterial attachment to silastic rubber surfaces.
Main Results:
- Enterococcus faecium L-forms demonstrated significantly slower growth rates (0.16 h-1) compared to parent cells (0.81 h-1).
- L-forms exhibited a longer lag phase during liquid culture.
- Attachment of L-forms to surfaces was 10-100 fold lower than parent cells; confluent biofilms were not observed for either form.
Conclusions:
- Enterococcus faecium L-forms possess reduced growth and surface colonization capabilities compared to their cell-walled counterparts.
- The differential attachment may offer insights into bacterial survival strategies against host defenses and antibiotic treatments.