The Effect of Leukocyte Hydrolases on Bacteria. XI. Lysis by Leukocyte Extracts and by Myeloperoxidase of a Staphylococcus aureus Mutant Which is Deficient in Teichoic Acid, and the Inhibition of Bacteriolysis by Lipoteichoic Acid

A Staph, aureus mutant (52A5) which is deficient in wall teichoic acid (TA) was found to be highly susceptible to lysis by leukocyte extracts (ENZ) and by myeloperoxidase (MPO) when harvested from the stationary phase of growth, On the other hand, a staphylococcus mutant, which is deficient in N-acetyl glucosamine in its TA (52A2), the parent strain SH and a protein A rich strain Cowen I, could be lysed by the leukocyte factors only when harvested from the logarithmic phase of growth. The lysis of all the bacterial strains by ENZ or by MPO was strongly inhibited by lipoteichoic acid (LTA) derived either from staphylococci or from streptococci. On the other hand, deacylated LTA, TA, LPS, cytoplasmic or cell wall components derived from streptococci had no inhibitory effect on bacteriolysis. It is concluded that TA may be important in the protection of old bacterial cells against degradation by leukocyte factors, and that LTA may be involved in the control of autolytic enzymes in staphylococci. The role of MPO in bacteriolysis is also discussed.