A rapid method for generating cystic forms of Borrelia burgdorferi, and their reversal to mobile spirochetes

• Published in: APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica et immunologica Scandinavica microbiologica et immunologica Scandinavica, 1998-12, Vol.106 (7-12), p.1131-1141
• Main Authors: BRORSON, ØYSTEIN, BRORSON, SVERRE-HENNING
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteriological methods and techniques used in bacteriology; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Borrelia burgdorferi; Borrelia burgdorferi Group - growth & development; Borrelia burgdorferi Group - ultrastructure; Culture Media; cystic forms; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Microbiology; spheroplast; spirochetes
• ISSN: 0903-4641; 1600-0463
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1998.tb00269.x

Mobile Borrelia burgdorferi were transferred to distilled water (106 per ml). The cultures were observed by dark field microscopy (DFM), interference contrast microscopy (ICM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). 95% of the spirochetes were converted to cysts after 1 min, and after 4 h no normal mobile borreliae were observed. When transferred to growth medium (BSK‐H), the cysts became smaller and more irregular, and were filled with organic substances. After 1 day, 1–5 thin structures sprouted from the cysts. They continued to grow in both length and thickness until they attained a normal spirochetal structure. Finally, these new‐born spirochetes detached from the cysts, by which time their mobility had become normal. The present method for producing large amounts of cystic forms of B. burgdorferi is well suited for further studies of this unique microbe.