Influence of lysozyme on aggregation of Staphylococcus aureus

The conditions under which lysozyme aggregates Staphylococcus aureus were studied. Lysozyme was found to aggregate S. aureus at concentrations found in human tear secretions. Aggregate size depended upon lysozyme concentration, ionic strength, and bacterial concentration. There was a low level of adherence of S. aureus to corneal epithelial cells, and the adherence of a recent clinical isolate was not influenced by lysozyme concentrations found in human tear secretions. Lysozyme may enhance bacterial clearance from the corneal surface of the eye by promoting particle aggregation.