A proposed life cycle for the Reiter treponeme

Abstract

Direct microscopical observations of single developing cysts in sealed slide microcultures prepared from 5-days-old tube cultures of the Reiter treponeme revealed two distinct phases in the life cycle. In one phase transverse fission was the main method of multiplication while in a second phase, occurring when conditions in the medium became unfavourable for propagation, cysts developed. These could release large numbers of actively motile treponemes when returned to optimum growth conditions. These observations, together with results of the dilution method for the calculation of the Most Probable Number and the absence of a response in treponemes killed by high temperature (45 degrees C) or abnormal pH (10), showed that the cysts were viable and a mode of propagation for the Reiter treponeme.

Persisting atypical and cystic forms of Borrelia burgdorferi and local inflammation in Lyme neuroborreliosis

“…This has also been observed in various types of spirochetes [e.g. [ 11 , 38 , 70 ]] including Borrelia burgdorferi [ 8 ] by transmission electron microscopy analyses. Uni- or multi-spirochetal cysts may be formed.…”

“…Their presence in syphilitic patients was regarded as confirmatory of the syphilitic nature of the lesions even in the absence of classical spiral forms [ 26 , 27 , 30 ]. These spore-like minute granules (0.1–0.3 μm in diameter) may pass the 0.2 μm "China" filter (32) and can grow into young spirochetes [ 6 , 19 , 25 - 38 ]. The newly formed spirochetes are delicate L or metacyclic forms [ 25 , 32 , 39 ].…”

Unusual in vitro formation of cyst-like structures associated with human intestinal spirochaetosis

“…Assembled structures were covered by parts of the membrane of the cystlike structure. In a study This is of biological and clinical significance, because the existence of non-spirochaetal forms of the causative agent of syphillis has long been postulated to explain the latency of syphillis and the infectivity of tissues without demonstrable treponemes (11). Our in vitro findings suggest that the spirochaetes may actually develop in cysts.…”

Recent achievements in the field of research of pathogens and methods of treatment and prevention of Mortellaro Disease

“…Treponema spp. it can undergo morphological changes from helical to cysteated forms [17] The Transition to the form of cysts occurs inside the host as a manifestation of the protective mechanism and one of the ways of transmitting the infectious agent in the external environment [18]. The transition requires a temperature of 37° Celsius and an anaerobic environment, which is quite achieved in the deep layers of the hoof skin.…”