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Frequency of staphylococcal lysozyme production tested by plate method
Abstract:
Lysozyme production is a frequent property of staphylococcal strains isolated from various sources; all 503 tested strains of Staphylococcus aureus and 13 out of 35 strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis produced an enzyme lysing Micrococcus lysodeikticus as tested by a modified plate method. Lysozyme production by staphylococci is more frequent than the production of free coagulase, clumping factor, staphylokinase, Tween 80 lipase, and HgCl(2) resistance.
Insights
Most Staphylococcus aureus and some Staphylococcus epidermidis strains produce lysozyme, an enzyme that lyses Micrococcus lysodeikticus. This lysozyme production is a common characteristic among staphylococcal strains.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Enzymology
Background:
- Lysozyme production is a known characteristic of some bacterial species.
- Staphylococcal species are common inhabitants of various environments and can be associated with different niches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency of lysozyme production in Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis strains.
- To compare the prevalence of lysozyme production with other common staphylococcal properties.
Main Methods:
- A modified plate method was used to detect lysozyme activity.
- Fifty-three strains of Staphylococcus aureus and 35 strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis were tested.
Main Results:
- All 503 tested Staphylococcus aureus strains produced lysozyme.
- 13 out of 35 Staphylococcus epidermidis strains exhibited lysozyme production.
- Lysozyme production was found to be more frequent than free coagulase, clumping factor, staphylokinase, Tween 80 lipase, and HgCl(2) resistance in these staphylococcal strains.
Conclusions:
- Lysozyme production is a frequent and common property among Staphylococcus aureus strains.
- A significant proportion of Staphylococcus epidermidis strains also produce lysozyme.
- Lysozyme production is a more prevalent characteristic in staphylococci compared to several other tested enzymes and resistance markers.