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. 1965 May;89(5):1387–1392. doi: 10.1128/jb.89.5.1387-1392.1965

Lysis of Bacterial Protoplasts and Spheroplasts by Staphylococcal α-Toxin and Streptolysin S

Alan W Bernheimer 1, Lois L Schwartz 1
PMCID: PMC277656  PMID: 14293012

Abstract

Bernheimer, Alan W. (New York University School of Medicine, New York, N.Y.), and Lois L. Schwartz. Lysis of bacterial protoplasts and spheroplasts by staphylococcal α-toxin and streptolysin S. J. Bacteriol. 89:1387–1392. 1965.—Protoplasts of Bacillus megaterium, Sarcina lutea, and Streptococcus pyogenes, and spheroplasts of Escherichia coli were lysed by staphylococcal α-toxin, whereas spheroplasts of Vibrio metschnikovii and V. comma were not. In the spectrum of its lytic action, streptolysin S qualitatively resembled staphylococcal α-toxin except for failure to lyse S. pyogenes protoplasts. In contrast to the two foregoing agents, streptolysin O did not lyse protoplasts and spheroplasts. The observations are interpreted in relation to similarities and differences in lipid composition of bacterial and mammalian cell membranes.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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