Abstract
IT has already been shown that antibiotic-producing streptococci other than the lactic group (Lancefield's Group N) are rare. The difficulties of survey were increased by toxic metabolic by-products, lactic acid in particular giving false inhibitory reactions on agar1. During the later stages of this work (unpublished) neutralized culture fluids were used to overcome the inhibitory effects of lactic acid. A cylinder-plate method was used for assays with Staphylococcus aureus (491) as the test organism. Several strains of streptococci were isolated from silage, the neutralized culture fluids of which gave 20-mm. zones of inhibition, while the un-neutralized acid culture fluids were inactive. These cultures were proved serologically to belong to Group N (Str. lactis), yet the inhibitory substance produced is inactive in acid media and is heat-labile, characters distinguishing it from the main antibiotic, nisin, produced by Str. lactis2.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Hirsch, A., and Wheater, D. M., J. Dairy Res., 18, 193 (1951).
Mattick, A. T. R., and Hirsch, A., Lancet, ii, 5 (1947).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
HIRSCH, A., WHEATER, D. ‘Streptozyme’, a Lytic Enzyme from Lactic Streptococci. Nature 168, 607 (1951). https://doi.org/10.1038/168607a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/168607a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.