RELATION BETWEEN THE VIRULENCE OF STREPTOCOCCI AND HEMOLYSIN

F A Stevens1, J W Brady, R West

  • 1Medical Clinic of the Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University, New York.

Summary

This study investigates whether increasing the disease-causing ability of streptococcus bacteria leads to higher production of hemolysin, a substance that destroys red blood cells. The researchers found that making these bacteria more dangerous does not increase their hemolysin output. Instead, the original, less dangerous strains often grow faster and produce their toxins earlier. These findings suggest that virulence and toxin production are not directly linked in the way previously assumed. The results are specific to certain laboratory conditions involving animal blood serum.

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