Inhibition of Proteinases of Certain Clostridia by Serum

Abstract

The proteolytic activity of culture filtrates of various spore-forming anaerobes was detd. by the gelatinase method of Haines. Fresh, normal rabbit serum inhibited the proteinases of Clostridium aerofetidum, C. botulinum, C. jallax, C. putrificum, C. sporogenes, and a rough strain of C. histolyticum. The albumin of the serum was responsible for most of this inhibition, although the globulin was also inhibitory. Trypsin was inhibited only by the albumin. Normal serum did not inhibit the proteinases of C. histolyticum, C. oedematis-maligni, or C. welchii. Immune serum specifically inhibited the proteinase of C. histolyticum.