Bacterial Lysis by Lysozyme

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Abstract
A description of the cultural characteristics of Micrococcus lysodeikticus, based on observations of cultures obtained from 3 sources, is given. Two of these strains now appear to be immunologically distinct from the original Fleming strain, although all 3 are otherwise identical. The organism grows in a synthetic medium in which casein hydrolysate and adenine are indispensable and Lactobacillus casei factor enhances growth. All cultures and their variants show the same sensitivity to egg white lysozyme. A strain adapted to egg white lysozyme became completely refractory to Ficus lysozyme. Altered sensitivity could be induced by certain methods of pretreatment of the organisms. Optimum conditions for the antibacterial action of lysozyme parallel, in general, the conditions for its depoly-merizing action against the isolated mucopolysaccharide substrate. The latter test is much more accurate for the standardization of lysozyme. The substrate is precipitated by antibacterial sera and is one of the cell antigens. Depoly-merized substrate can combine with antibody. Lysozyme is capable of attacking organism or substrate when either is combined with antibody.

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