Streptococcus pneumoniae produces a second haemolysin that is distinct from pneumolysin.
Pneumococci are described as alpha-haemolytic but under certain circumstances they produce zones of beta-haemolysis on blood-containing medium. This observation was investigated using wild type strains and a genetically-modified strain unable to produce the haemolytic toxin, pneumolysin. beta-haemolysis was produced by all pneumococci tested. It was not inhibited by anti-pneumolysin antibody but could be inactivated by cholesterol. These data confirm that pneumococci elaborate a second haemolysin, distinct from pneumolysin.
Canvin
J R
JR
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Leicester, U.K.
Paton
J C
JC
Boulnois
G J
GJ
Andrew
P W
PW
Mitchell
T J
TJ
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000378:metabolism; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013301:Streptolysins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D013301:Streptolysins; C032290:plY protein, Streptococcus pneumoniae; D002784:Cholesterol