Comparative immunological study of catalases in the genus Micrococcus

Abstract
Double immunodiffusion tests were performed with crude extracts from various Micrococcus species and antisera against catalase of Micrococcus luteus CCM 169. Cell-free extracts of M. lylae ATCC 27566 exhibited good cross-reaction. Cell-free extracts or catalase enriched preparations of M. varians reacted very weakly and no reaction has been found with preparations of M. kristinae, M. nishinomiyaensis, M. roseus and M. sedentarius. The quantitative microcomplement fixation assay also revealed a closer relationship between M. luteus and M. lylae than between M. luteus and M. varians. Strains of other Micrococcus species reacted in the microcomplement assay with M. luteus antiserum just as weakly as non-related strains, e.g. Staphylococcus aureus or Cellulomonas cartalyticum.