A Comparison of the Ultrastructure of the Small-Colony Variant and the Parent Strain of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Comparisons of the ultrastructure of cells of the small-colony variant and the parent strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were made by examination with the electron microscope. It was observed repeatedly over a period of three years that the cells of the small-colony variant seeme...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 1972-01, Vol.125 (1), p.1-4
Main Authors: Bulger, Roger J., Collman, Maureen, Feigl, Polly, Bulger, Ruth E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Methicillin - pharmacology
Microscopy, Electron
Penicillin Resistance
Staphylococcus - cytology
Staphylococcus - drug effects
Staphylococcus - growth & development
Staphylococcus - isolation & purification
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Summary:Comparisons of the ultrastructure of cells of the small-colony variant and the parent strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were made by examination with the electron microscope. It was observed repeatedly over a period of three years that the cells of the small-colony variant seemed considerably larger than the cells of the parent strain. A careful attempt at quantitating this and other findings produced data indicating that (1) the mean diameter of cells of the small-colony variant is 20% greater than that of cells of the parent strain; (2) there are more abnormal forms among the dividing cells of the small-colony variant than among cells of the parent strain; (3) twice as many dividing cells were found in the small-colony variant than in the parent strain; and (4) in cells that had reverted from small colonies to a line producing normal colonies, none of these abnormalities were found.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1093/infdis/125.1.1