A novel method for differentiating L-form bacteria from their parental form using the Hucker Gram staining technique

L-forms of Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola were differentiated from their parent, cell-walled forms by a modified Gram staining technique. The addition of glutaraldehyde to the culture medium fixed the cells to prevent lysis of the L-forms. The cell-walled forms exhibited typical Gram staining reactions whereas the L-forms remained red due to the counterstain. L-forms were easily differentiated from cell-walled forms by their size and morphology which was made more obvious by the staining procedure. This is a very rapid and easy technique which distinguishes L-form bacteria from cell-walled organisms.