Lippincott Microbiology Practice Exam

The life cycle of Chlamydia is characterized by the presence of two distinct forms: the elementary body and the reticulate body. The elementary body is the infectious form, which has a unique ability to survive outside of host cells and is responsible for initiating infection by entering susceptible cells. Once inside the host cell, the elementary body transforms into the reticulate body, which is non-infectious but replicative. This reticulate body can divide inside the host cell, ultimately leading to the formation of new elementary bodies that can be released to infect other cells.

This distinguishing feature of having two forms within its life cycle allows Chlamydia to effectively adapt to its environment and establish infections. The elementary body is crucial for transmission, while the reticulate body is key to replication and maintenance within the host. Understanding this unique life cycle is important for grasping the pathogenicity and treatment strategies for infections caused by Chlamydia, as interventions often target specific stages of the cycle.