CHROMOSOMAL REARRANGEMENT AND SEROVAR CONVERSION IN LEPTOSPIRA-BIFLEXA STRAINS

A bacterial population change involving chromosomal rearrangement and phenotypic changes in antigens, proteins and lipopolysaccharides is de scribed for strains of Leptospira biflexa that were previously grown i n media containing homologous oligoclonal antibodies. The chromosomal rearrangement phenomenon showed that the variants differed from the pa rent strains, yet they were similar to phenotypically related serovars already occurring in nature. Accordingly, in vitro serovar conversion mediated by chromosomal rearrangement, due to as yet unknown genetic mechanisms, had occurred.