THE REVERSION OF THE L FORM OF PROTEUS MIRABILIS INTO THE ROD FORM

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Abstract
P. mirabilis strain K forms macroscopic L type colonies on semisolid penicillin agar containing 1% PPLO serum (Difco). These colonies consist of spheres ranging in diam. from 0.2 to 7[mu]. When removed from penicillin the larger spheres elongate, branch and finally break up into rod forms. If penicillinase is present in the prepn., these rods multiply but seldom form swarm cells. In the absence of penicillinase, many swarm cells with central globular swellings are produced. The reversions of L forms to rods is illustrated by time-lapse photographs of living material observed by dark phase contrast. The term, "L form", should be restricted to elements found in typical macroscopic L type colonies and the term, "large body", to large spherical forms not associated with such colonies.
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