THE EFFECT OF SPECIFIC AGENTS EXTRACTED FROM SOIL MICROÖRGANISMS UPON EXPERIMENTAL BACTERIAL INFECTIONS

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A review of researches on the bactericidal substances obtained by Dubos from soil bacilli. Among these substances are (1) Specific microbial enzymes capable of hydrolyzing the capsular polysaccharides of pneumococci, and which also protect exptl. animals against infection with virulent pneumococci. Evidence for the high specificity of these enzymes is reviewed[long dash]e.g., distinct enzymes specifically attacking the capsular polysaccharides of (respectively) Type III and Type VIII pneumococci were found. (2) An alcohol soluble agent, extracted from a sporulating bacillus and isolated in the crystalline form, was found which exerts a marked bactericidal effect against all the Gram-positive microorganisms so far tested and is also effective in vivo against infection with these organisms.[long dash]The mechanism of the protection induced by these 2 classes of microbial agents is discussed.