[Presence of extracellular proteases in Pseudomonas aeruginosa]

Proteolytic activity on hide power azure (HPA) and elastin was assayed in 32 Pseudomonas strains. Dye substrates were incubated with culture supernatants for 30 min at 37 degrees C and then released dye was measured photocolometrically. 100% of strains showed proteolytic activity on HPA and 56.25% were elastase positive, the values obtained with the first substrate were the highest. No relation with strain origin was established.