Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Isolation, Propagation, and Identification of Bacterial Species with Hydrocarbon Metabolizing Properties from Aquatic Habitats
Published on: December 7, 2021
Bacteriolysis is inhibited by hydrogen peroxide and by proteases
1Department of Oral Biology, Hebrew University-Hadassah Faculty of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem.
Abstract:
Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in vitro with cationic agents results in the activation of their autolytic wall enzymes and in the degradation of their cell walls. Exposure of staphylococci either to hydrogen peroxide or the proteinases abolished the autolytic process. This effect was totally reversed by catalase and by proteinase inhibitors, respectively. It is suggested that the failure of neutrophils and macrophages to effectively degrade microbial cell wall components in inflammatory sites might be due to the inactivation of the autolytic wall enzymes of bacteria by hydrogen peroxide and by proteinases generated by the activated leukocytes. This might explain the prolonged chronic inflammatory sequelae seen following infections.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Peroxisomes
Chemical Agents for Microbial Control
Biological Methods for Microbial Control
Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis
Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis

