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. 1974 Jun;27(6):1031–1033. doi: 10.1128/am.27.6.1031-1033.1974

Extracellular Deoxyribonuclease Production by Anaerobic Bacteria

Richard K Porschen 1, Sandra Sonntag 1
PMCID: PMC380203  PMID: 4364608

Abstract

The production of extracellular deoxyribonuclease was examined with anaerobic organisms isolated from clinical specimens. Nuclease activity was extraordinarily common. All strains of Fusobacterium, including eight species, as well as Bacteroides fragilis and B. melaninogenicus, displayed enzyme activity. Whereas the gram-positive bacteria were generally less productive, all strains of Clostridium perfringens, Peptostreptococcus intermedius, and P. anaerobius specifically produced deoxyribonuclease. The test is taxonomically valuable, particularly in the characterization of gram-positive cocci, since a deoxyribonuclease-producing coccus indicates P. intermedius or P. anaerobius. Additionally, possession of the enzyme may prove to be a useful correlate of the potential pathogenicity of anaerobes.

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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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