What is the Difference Between L-form Bacteria and Mycoplasma

The key difference between L-form bacteria and mycoplasma is that L-form bacteria do not have a cell wall as a result of mutation or as a response to extreme nutritional conditions, while mycoplasma inherently does not have a cell wall.

The cell wall is a critical structural component of most bacteria. However, some bacteria do not possess a cell wall. L-form bacteria and mycoplasma are two types of bacteria that lack a cell wall. The lack of cell walls is a natural characteristic of mycoplasma. But in L-form bacteria, the lack of a cell wall is not a natural thing. It is a result of mutation or a response to extreme nutritional conditions.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are L-form Bacteria 
3. What is Mycoplasma
4. Similarities – L-form Bacteria and Mycoplasma
5. L-form Bacteria vs. Mycoplasma in Tabular Form
6. Summary – L-form Bacteria vs. Mycoplasma

What are L-form Bacteria?

L-form or L-phase bacteria are a form of bacteria that lack a cell wall. They originate from different bacteria. However, L-form bacteria can potentially revert to the original or parent form under certain circumstances. A lack of a cell wall is not a natural occurrence in L-form bacteria. They have formed cells without a cell wall because of a mutation or as a response to extreme nutritional conditions.

In 1935, Emmy Klieneberger-Nobel discovered L-form bacteria for the first time. L-form bacteria resemble mycoplasma. However, unlike mycoplasma, L-form bacteria are normal bacteria. L-form bacteria are sensitive to osmotic shock. In addition, L-form bacteria can be gram-positive or gram-negative. They exist in different shapes.

What is Mycoplasma?

Mycoplasma is a group of bacteria that lack a cell wall around their cell membranes. They are the smallest and simplest bacteria. They possess a minimum number of cell organelles. They come under the class Mollicutes. Mycoplasma is mostly spherical in shape.

Mycoplasma cause diseases in humans and animals. Since mycoplasma does not have a cell wall, mycoplasma cannot be treated with antibiotics that target cell walls. They can be killed by placing very high or low salt environments. They are unable to resist the osmotic environment around them. However, the steroid-rich cell membrane provides them the resistance from rupturing. Mycoplasma contaminations are one of the major problems in cell cultures and research laboratories. Furthermore, mycoplasma can be treated with specific antibiotics such as tetracyclines, macrolides, and the newer quinolones for which they are sensitive.

What are the Similarities Between L-form Bacteria and Mycoplasma?

• L-form bacteria and mycoplasma are two cell wall-less bacteria.
• They don’t have peptidoglycan.
• Both bacteria are pleomorphic, meaning that they can change their morphology.
• They are prokaryotic organisms.
• They are resistant to antibiotics that target cell walls.
• Most importantly, both types are resistant to penicillin.
• They can cause abscesses and cellulitis in cats.
• Both types of bacteria are helpful in research.

What is the Difference Between L-form Bacteria and Mycoplasma?

L-form bacteria do not have a cell wall as a result of mutation or as a response to extreme nutritional conditions, while mycoplasma inherently does not have a cell wall. Thus, this is the key difference between L-form bacteria and mycoplasma. Furthermore, in humans, L-form bacteria cause diseases such as endocarditis, bacteremia, uveitis, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, arthritis, recurrent UTIs, soft tissue infections, and meningitis. On the other hand, in humans, mycoplasma cause diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, and bronchitis.

The infographic below presents the differences between L-form bacteria and mycoplasma in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – L-form Bacteria vs Mycoplasma

L-form bacteria and mycoplasma are two types of bacteria that lack a cell wall around their cell membrane. Since they do not have a rigid cell wall, they can change their shape, so they are pleomorphic. Moreover, both types are resistant to antibiotics targeting cell walls. However, the infections of these bacteria can be controlled by antibiotics like tetracyclines. Furthermore, L-form bacteria are difficult to cultivate in the laboratory. This is because these bacteria require specific growth conditions. On the other hand, mycoplasma can be easily grown in the laboratory. So, this summarizes what is the difference between L-form bacteria and mycoplasma.

Reference:

1. Errington, Jeff. “L-Form Bacteria, Cell Walls and the Origins of Life.” Open Biology.
2. “Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Causes and How It Spreads.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Image Courtesy:

1. “TEM of L-form bacteria-Mark Leaver Newcastle University” By The Red Lexicon – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “M. haemofelis IP2011” By Nr387241 – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia