Thymidine-dependent small-colony variants of Staphylococcus aureus exhibit gross morphological and ultrastructural changes consistent with impaired cell separation - PubMed (original) (raw)

Thymidine-dependent small-colony variants of Staphylococcus aureus exhibit gross morphological and ultrastructural changes consistent with impaired cell separation

Barbara C Kahl et al. J Clin Microbiol. 2003 Jan.

Abstract

Thymidine-dependent small-colony variants (SCV) of Staphylococcus aureus exhibited unusual colony morphology with "fried-egg" or pinpoint white colonies on agar plates and pleomorphic cocci as determined by Gram staining. Electron microscopy revealed enlarged cocci with incomplete or multiple cross walls consistent with impaired cell separation. Fried-egg SCV phenotypes could be reversed by thymidine supplementation.

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Figures

FIG. 1.

Growth of thymidine-dependent SCVs with fried-egg appearance and with pinpoint colonies on Columbia blood agar. (A) Fried-egg thymidine-dependent SCVs (left, arrow) in comparison to the isogenic normal S. aureus (right, N). (B) Pinpoint SCVs (left, arrow) in comparison to the isogenic normal S. aureus (right, N). All strains were grown overnight at 37°C.

FIG. 2.

Gram staining and SEM of fried-egg SCVs (panels I), pinpoint SCVs (panels II), and normal S. aureus (panels III). (A) Gram staining. Arrows indicate large cocci. (B and C) Low- and high-magnification SEM, respectively. Arrows indicate the enhanced intercellular substance present in SCVs compared to normal S. aureus.

FIG. 3.

TEM of fried-egg SCVs (A, B, and C), pinpoint SCVs (D and E), and normal S. aureus (F). (A and B) Arrows indicate incomplete or multiple cross walls. (C) Incomplete cross wall (small arrows), cellular debris (intermediate arrow), and empty cells (large arrows) are seen. (D and E) Pinpoint SCVs with atypical unrounded cells and mesosome-like structures (arrow). (F) Normal S. aureus cells displaying regular cell separation by a cross wall (arrow) surrounding a highly contrasting splitting system.

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Thymidine-dependent small-colony variants of Staphylococcus aureus exhibit gross morphological and ultrastructural changes consistent with impaired cell separation - PubMed (original) (raw)