Open AccessGrowth and adhesion of Enterococcus faecium L‐forms
Author(s) -
Jass Jana,
Phillips Lisa E.,
Allan Eunice J.,
Costerton J.W.,
LappinScott Hilary M.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1994.tb06631.x
Subject(s) - enterococcus faecium , silastic , bacteria , adhesion , colonisation , microbiology and biotechnology , biofilm , enterococcus , biology , population , chemistry , antibiotics , colonization , organic chemistry , demography , sociology , genetics , endocrinology
Comparisons of growth and surface colonisation of Enterococcus faecium L‐forms and their cell‐walled forms were undertaken to produce information about their ability to form sessile cells. The growth of L‐forms in liquid culture was slower than that of the parent. This was reflected in their longer lag phase and slower specific growth rates: 0.16 h −1 for the L‐form and 0.81 h −1 for the parent. Although E. faecium L‐forms attached to a silastic rubber surface, the attached population density was 10–100‐fold less than that of the parent. Confluent biofilms on the silastic surfaces were not observed for either bacterial form. Comparison of the attachment of E. faecium L‐form and parent may provide important information on how bacteria overcome host defence mechanisms and antibiotic treatment.