Effects of secretion inhibitors on the production of CAMP factor from Streptococcus agalactiae

Investigations of exopeptide secretion with inhibitors were performed to study the synthesis and release of CAMP factor in drug-treated growing cells of Streptococcus agalactiae. Besides a reduction in cell growth, membrane-active substances including cerulenin and neuroactive drugs, such as procaine, dibucaine and atropine, increased the CAMP factor activity in culture supernatant. Quinacrine and phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride, inhibitors of exopeptide-releasing proteases, reduced the bacterial growth, but did not affect the differential rate of the CAMP factor release. Polyanethole sulphonic acid, an anticoagulant preventing cell wall autolysis, promoted cell growth, but caused approximately 40% reduction in the production of CAMP factor from growing cells of S. agalactiae.