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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Improved Enzyme Protection Assay to Study Staphylococcus aureus Internalization and Intracellular Efficacy of Antimicrobial Compounds

Improved Enzyme Protection Assay to Study Staphylococcus aureus Internalization and Intracellular Efficacy of Antimicrobial Compounds

Published on: September 8, 2021

EFFECT OF PURIFIED ENZYMES ON VIRUSES AND GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA.

¹Department of Animal and Plant Pathology of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, Princeton, N. J.

The Journal of Experimental Medicine

|October 30, 2009

Summary

Some viruses and bacteria exhibit protein-like behavior, being inactivated by proteolytic enzymes. Gram-negative bacteria showed differential resistance, while Gram-positive bacteria were resistant to these enzymes.

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Area of Science:

Microbiology
Biochemistry

Background:

Proteolytic enzymes like trypsin and chymotrypsin degrade proteins.
The susceptibility of microorganisms to enzymatic degradation is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the behavior of viruses and bacteria when exposed to proteolytic enzymes.
To determine if microorganisms can be inactivated by enzymes that digest proteins.

Main Methods:

Exposure of viruses and ten strains of Gram-negative bacteria (living and killed) to purified trypsin and chymotrypsin.
Observation of inactivation/digestion of viruses and bacteria.

Main Results:

Some viruses were inactivated by proteolytic enzymes, similar to proteins.
Living Gram-negative bacteria resisted enzymatic action, but killed organisms were rapidly digested.
Gram-positive bacteria (living or dead) were resistant to trypsin and chymotrypsin.

Conclusions:

Microbial inactivation by proteolytic enzymes is variable.
Gram-negative bacteria exhibit different susceptibility based on viability.
Gram-positive bacteria possess resistance to common proteolytic enzymes.