Staphylococcal Coagulase: Mode of Action and Antigenicity

Abstract

Several strains of staphylococci were studied for free-coagulase production, and a strain "Newmann" was used to produce the coagulase used in this work. The physical properies of coagulase activator were studied and compared with those of prothrombin: the 2 were found to be markedly similar, differing chiefly in the inability of prothrombin to withstand Seitz filtration. Antibodies to coagulase were found in the sera of humans, being high in those individuals with chronic staphylococcal infections. Antibodies to coagulase could be produced in rabbits by injn. of repeated large doses. The concn. of coagulase activator in plasma was high in humans, monkeys, horses, cats, pigs, fowls, and rabbits, and low in cows, sheep, dogs, guinea-pigs, and mice.