variants
or less commonly L-phase
: a small variant form of some bacteria (as those causing anthrax, Lyme disease, and tuberculosis) that typically lacks a cell wall and displays resistance to antibiotics
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“L-form.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/L-form. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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L-form
noun
: a small, variant form of some bacteria (such as those causing anthrax, Lyme disease, and tuberculosis) that usually lacks a cell wall and typically displays resistance to antibiotics
called also L-phase
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