Appearance:
Also referred to as cell wall deficient forms (CWD’s), L-phase variants (and chondrits in pleomorphism), L-form bacteria are pleomorphic bacteria and can therefore assume a number of different shapes.
They spend a large part of their life cycle as tiny (about 0.01 microns in diameter) spherical forms, too small to be observed with a normal optical microscope.
At times, L-form bacteria can be observed breaking out of cells, where they can grow into long, thin biofilm filaments that can reach 60-70 microns in length. The biofilm filaments are composed of L-form bacteria and a protective protein sheath.
These bacteria lack a cell wall, which renders them very flexible and since they do not have flagella, their motion is very different from normal bacteria. They may also appear as more complex structures, with 3-4 spheres or donuts interconnected by a thin thread.
This appearance is most likely related to the bacteria replicating. Some classify the butterfly or disc-shaped bodies visible around some platelets as L-form bacteria, but these are more accurately classified as Pteroharpen.