A STUDY OF MICROCOCCUS ZYMOGENES

Abstract

The literature on M. zymogenes is reviewed. The present study includes 5 strains of M. zymogenes and 1 of Streptococcus liquefaciens and shows that organisms which have all of the characters originally given for M. zymogenes may still vary considerably in other respects. The Biochemistry of the organisms is fully described and compared, and the conclusion drawn that M. zymogenes and Strep. liquefaciens are closely related if not identical and belong to the same large group of milk, dust and fecal cocci. It is suggested that M. zymogenes (or Strep. liquefaciens) would be more often described if the proteolytic activities of streptococcus-like organisms were more generally studied. It is believed that M. zymogenes has no specific pathogenic properties, since it occurs in a variety of lesions and also in the normal intestine, throat and vagina, and in cheese, etc.