STUDIES ON THE MODE OF ACTION OF LYSOZYME ON MYCOBACTERIA

Abstract

Tubercle bacilli are resistant to lysozyme when grown in Dubos broth plus 5% serum at pH 7.0. Iodine inactivates the antibacterial property of lysozyme for M.phlei and Sarcina lutea. whereas it does not alter the antibacterial property of protamine for these organisms. No strain of Mycobacteria with increased resistance to lysozyme resulting from treatment with tuberculocidal levels of lysozyme was obtained. The action of lysozyme on the tubercle bacilli is not of a nonspecific character attributable, as in the case of protamine, to basic properties but instead is that of an enzyme.