Studies on penicillinase produced by a strain of Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Some aspects of the induction of penicillinase formation in penicillin-resistant strains of staphylococci were studied[long dash]particularly with respect to methicillin and benzyl-penicillin. The greater effectiveness of methicillin, in this respect, is shown to be due largely to greater stability towards penicillinase. A method of preparing cell-free penicillinase is described, and some properties of this and the penicillinase of whole cells reported. The Michaelis constants for a number of penicillins are given, and their significance with regard to the effectiveness of the penicillin against penicillinase-producing staphylococci is discussed. The inactivation of staphylococcal penicillinase by high concentrations of substrate is described.