%0 Journal Article %A O'Connell, Catherine M. %A Nicks, Kristy M. %T A plasmid-cured Chlamydia muridarum strain displays altered plaque morphology and reduced infectivity in cell culture %D 2006 %J Microbiology, %V 152 %N 6 %P 1601-1607 %@ 1465-2080 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.28658-0 %K i.f.u., inclusion-forming units %I Microbiology Society, %X A highly conserved cryptic plasmid is present in Chlamydia trachomatis yet naturally occurring plasmid-deficient isolates are very rare. This paper describes the isolation and characterization of a plasmid-deficient strain of C. muridarum, using novobiocin as a curing agent. Plasmid-deficient derivatives of C. muridarum strain Nigg were generated at high efficiencies (4–30 %). Phenotypic characterization revealed that the cured derivative was unable to accumulate glycogen within intracytoplasmic inclusions. In addition, this strain formed small plaques at a reduced efficiency compared to the wild-type parent. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/mic.0.28658-0