Aminopeptidase activity of Leptospira strains

A total of 15 cultures of Leptospira were examined for aminopeptidase activity using 22 aminoacyl-beta-naphthylamde substrates. Activity was demonstrated in each of the cultures. Extracts from serovars of Leptospira interrogans preferentially hydrolysed the same range of substrates. The level of hydrolysis of the preferred substrates for the seven strains of L. interrogans was distinctively higher than that demonstrated for the six Leptospira biflexa strains. Extracts from cultures of Leptospira illini and Leptospira parva sp. nov. exhibited profiles different to those demonstrated for the other 13 leptospiral cultures examined.