Filterability of L-forms.

We investigated the recovery of L-forms through micropore filtration. The findings indicate that L-form recovery and viability are a function of filter size and preparation technique. Current methods in use for L-form isolation appear to give erroneously low results, underestimating the potential role of L-forms in human disease.

Bacterial L-form isolation from inflammatory bowel disease patients.

This study was designed to investigate a possible relationship between bacterial L forms and inflammatory bowel disease. Homogenates of intestinal mucosal biopsies from Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and control patients underwent bacterial culture on hypertonic media designed for the recovery of L-form bacteria and parental organisms. L forms were recovered from 24 of 71 Crohn's disease, 51 of 121 ulcerative colitis, and 2 of 140 control biopsy specimens. These isolation rates are significantly different when Crohn's disease biopsy specimens (p less than 0.001) and ulcerative colitis biopsy specimens (p less than 0.001) are compared with controls. Six different L-form types were recovered, of which the most common were Escherichia coli and Streptococcus fecalis. No marked differences were observed in L-form recovery rates or L-form types recovered between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients. Drug treatment of inflammatory bowel disease patients did not affect L-form recovery rates or the type of L forms recovered. The results suggest either that L forms are involved in the causation of inflammatory bowel disease or that their presence in mucosal biopsy tissues is a result of the disease process.

Calcium requirement and magnesium stimulation of Escherichia coli L-form induction.

Calcium was found to be required for l-form penicillin induction of Escherichia coli K-12 W1485, and magnesium was found to be stimulatory.