Influence of a Bacillus on the Reversion of Hemophilus influenzae L Forms to the Bacterial Form

Abstract

Summary

Bacterial forms reappeared in L form colonies of various species of bacteria in the neighborhood of colonies of a large gram-positive spore-bearing bacillus, or immersed in the filtrate of a broth culture of this Bacillus. This effect was most conspicuous in L cultures of Hemophilus influenzae. The organisms in the L culture did not resume their bacterial form en masse; rather bacterial forms started to grow at a few sites within the L colonies. Several other strains of similar spore-bearing bacilli tested did not have a similar effect on the L forms.