Production of Octadecenoic Acid in Plasma by Staphylococcus aureus.

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Abstract
Summary Macroscopically visible lipid plaques were produced on the surface of human blood agar plates and on 10% plasma agar plates when they were inoculated centrally with certain strains of coagulase-positive S. aureus or exposed to active sterile agar segments (ASA). Similar lipid plaques covered the surface of liquid media containing plasma when activated sterile agar segments were suspended in the media. Staphylococcus antitoxin prevented the appearance of the lipid plaques. The lipid plaques consist primarily of octadecenoic acid, both free and in triglycerides. Lesser amounts of stearic, palmitic and various shorter chain acids are also present. The most likely explanation for the phenomenon is that a lipase released by certain strains of staphylococci acts upon the lipids in human plasma.

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