NUTRITIONALLY DEFICIENT STREPTOCOCCI - ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF 14 STRAINS ISOLATED IN BACTERIAL-ENDOCARDITIS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. B131  (2) , 101-+
Abstract
Nutritionally deficient streptococci (14 strains) were isolated from patients with bacterial endocarditis and observed by light microscopy and EM. In brain-heart infusion broth supplemented with Isovitalex, the streptococci could be placed into 3 morphological groups according to abnormalities involving septation or cell wall structure. Group 1 (strains 7, 8, 13, 14) was characterized by coccobacilli resulting from the failure of cross wall formation between 2 cocci; cell wall structure was normal. Group 2 (strains 2, 4, 5, 11, 12) was characterized by long chains of elongated bacteria (rod-shaped bacteria) resulting from the failure of cross wall formation and the failure of separation of daughter cells after division; cell wall structure was normal. Group 3 (strains 1, 3, 6, 9, 10) was characterized by different abnormalities of cell wall thickness and structure; the cell wall was irregularly enlarged (strains 9, 10), thick and stratified (strain 1) or desquamating (strains 3, 6). These abnormalities of septation with or without abnormalities of cell wall appear to be much more important than those observed in normal streptococci during unbalanced growth in nutritionally deficient media. They can be compared to the abnormalities shown in vivo by the bacteria of dental plaque. The differences observed between the strains might be due to different metabolic deficiencies.

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