THE EFFECT OF PNEUMOCOCCUS AUTOLYSATES UPON PNEUMOCOCCUS DERMAL INFECTION IN THE RABBIT

In pneumococcus dermal infections in rabbits, the addition of pneumococcus autolysate to an infective inoculum favors the invasiveness of the particular strain employed, but does not alter the kind of virulence possessed by that strain. Autolysates exhibiting this enhancing property also induce purpura in mice and inhibit the coagulation of rabbit blood. The relation of these properties to the infectivity of Pneumococcus and the possible role of bacterial autolysis in natural infection are discussed.