Staphylococcal Fibrinolysis.

Abstract

Staphylokinase is that fraction of a staphylococcal culture product which activates a plasma protease precursor (tryptogen or plasminogen) to a fibrinolytic enzyme in a manner closely analogous to a corresponding streptococcal product (streptokinase). Whether or not a particular fibrinogen prepn. will be coagulated or lysed depends upon the incidental presence of staphylocoagulase co-factor or protease precursor, respectively. The coagulation and lytic phenomena are separable by choice of fibrinogen containing only the appropriate co-factor, and by differences in thermolability. After 2 hrs. at 75 C, staphylocoagulation (prostaphylocoagulase) is lost, whereas fibrinolysis (staphy-lokinase) is only slightly reduced.