title: [Studies on the biological activity of slime isolated from staphylococci].
abstract: The biological characteristic and activity of slime isolated from Staphylococcus aureus No. 71 and Staphylococcus epidermidis No. 2 was studied. The slime isolated from both strains had high contents of protein, RNA (orcinol reaction-positive substances) and sugar. The slime showed low toxic effect when it was injected intravenously and intraperitoneally into mice. It, however, exhibited potent cytotoxic effect against mouse neutrophils in both ex vivo and in vivo experiments. The enhancement of virulence of Escherichia coli by slime isolated from staphylococci was due to neutrophil-impairing effect. It is suggested that the slime isolated from S. aureus and S. epidermidis may act as an virulence factor.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Obana
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000032:analysis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence