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ABSORPTION OF THE ANTIBACTERIAL SERUM FACTOR BY STAPHYLOCOCCI

Department of Microbiology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois

ABSTRACT

YOTIS, WILLIAM W. (Loyola University, Chicago, Ill.). Absorption of the antibacterial serum factor by staphylococci. J. Bacteriol. 85:911–917. 1963.—The absorption of antibacterial serum factor by eight bacterial species and one yeast showed good correlation with the sensitivity of the organisms to the serum factor. The serum factor was removed from aqueous solution by coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative strains of staphylococci and Bacillus subtilis, and the oxygen consumption of the bacteria was inhibited by prior exposure to the serum factor. Escherichia coli, Neisseria catarrhalis, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus megaterium, Mycobacterium phlei, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae failed to absorb the serum factor, and their respiration was not inhibited by prior exposure to 40 mg or more of the serum factor per ml. Staphylococci treated with 0.25 mg per ml of coagulase were almost completely refractory to the antibacterial action of 2 mg of serum factor per ml, and the serum factor was not absorbed. When the staphylococci were first treated with the serum factor, subsequent treatment with coagulase had no effect. Exposure of staphylocci to heat (70 C for 1 hr), 3.6% formaldehyde, 1 N sodium hydroxide, and 1 N hydrochloric acid did not prevent absorption of the serum factor. However, pretreatment with 88% liquefied phenol partially prevented serum factor absorption. The absorption and antibacterial activity of the serum factor were dependent on the concentration, the time and temperature of exposure, and the nature and concentration of salts present.