Identification of hemolytic activity in Prevotella intermedia.
Hemolysin production was measured in strains of Prevotella intermedia. Zones of beta-hemolysis were detected on agar plates supplemented with either sheep, rabbit or human erythrocytes. A standard tube assay was performed on cell suspensions of the organism to measure hemolytic activity, which was found to be dose dependent, eliminated by heat treatment, and saturable with increasing concentrations of blood. Growth-phase experiments suggested that hemolysin production was increased during logarithmic growth and was reduced during stationary phase. Cell fractionation, performed on several strains of P. intermedia, localized the activity in the outer membrane and in cell vesicles. The biological implication of this study is that P. intermedia, by virtue of its hemolytic activity, is capable of liberating the hemoglobin from erythrocytes, thereby acquiring an essential nutrient, iron, for its metabolism.
Beem
J E
JE
Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610, USA.
Nesbitt
W E
WE
Leung
K P
KP
D000818:Animals; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000633:toxicity; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D011817:Rabbits; D012756:Sheep; D013997:Time Factors; D014774:Virulence
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins