Lysis of Bacterial Protoplasts and Spheroplasts by Staphylococcal α-Toxin and Streptolysin S

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Bernheimer, AlanW. (New York University School of Medicine, New York, N.Y.),and Lois L. Schwartz. Lysis of bacterial protoplasts and spheroplasts by staphylococcal α-toxin and streptolysin S. J. Bacteriol.89:1387–1392. 1965.—Protoplasts ofBacillus megaterium, Sarcina lutea, andStreptococcus pyogenes, and spheroplasts ofEscherichia coliwere lysed by staphylococcal α-toxin, whereas spheroplasts ofVibrio metschnikoviiandV. commawere not. In the spectrum of its lytic action, streptolysin S qualitatively resembled staphylococcal α-toxin except for failure to lyseS. pyogenesprotoplasts. In contrast to the two foregoing agents, streptolysin O did not lyse protoplasts and spheroplasts. The observations are interpreted in relation to similarities and differences in lipid composition of bacterial and mammalian cell membranes.

This publication has 19 references indexed in Scilit: