Extracellular enzymes of Legionella pneumophila

Abstract
All strains of L. pneumophila tested produced detectable levels of extracellular protease, phosphatase, lipase, DNase, RNase and .beta.-lactamase activity. Weak starch hydrolysis was also demonstrated for all strains. Elastase, collagenase, phospholipase C, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, neuraminidase or coagulase were not detected in any of these laboratory-maintained strains. Production of extracellular enzymes by L. pneumophila may be responsible for pulmonary and extrapulmonary disturbances accompanying Legionnaires disease in man.

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