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. 1971 Feb;21(2):272–277. doi: 10.1128/am.21.2.272-277.1971

Polyacrylamide Gel Identification of Bacterial L-Forms and Mycoplasma Species of Human Origin

Theodore S Theodore 1, Joseph G Tully 1, Roger M Cole 1
PMCID: PMC377161  PMID: 5544289

Abstract

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic patterns of acidified phenol extracts prepared from whole cells can be used for the identification of bacterial L-forms and Mycoplasma species of human origin. Ten human Mycoplasma serotypes and eight L-forms belonging to five different genera were studied. The gel patterns were sufficiently distinct and reproducible that it was possible not only to identify L-forms at the genus level (group with streptococci) and different Mycoplasma serotypes but also to differentiate between the two of them. The parentage of L-forms of Streptobacillus moniliformis L1, Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus MG, and Staphylococcus aureus Smith strain was established by relating their gel patterns directly to parent bacteria. It was found that an L-form designated S. moniliformis An (ATCC 14220) was actually an L-form of Proteus. In addition, it was shown electrophoretically that no relationship existed between the Streptococcus MG L-form and M. pneumoniae. The applicability of this method as a diagnostic and taxonomic tool for the differentiation of L-forms and mycoplasmas is discussed.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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