Abstract Some microorganisms are characterised by the ability to create specific morphological varieties called Small Colony Variants (SCVs). This characteristic was noted, among others, in Gram-positive cocci, mainly staphylococci, but also Gram-negative bacilli. The properties of that differentiate them from wild-type colonies (mainly their small size) facilitate intracellular survival (e.g. ...

Among the reasons for the growing interest in studying biofilm formation is the role of these microbial communities in chronic infections (24, 38). Such biofilm-like chronic infections include the respiratory infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung (7), relapsing otitis media primarily caused by Haemophilus influenzae (41), and staphylococcal lesions in endo...