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Lysozyme and Serum Bactericidal Action

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Abstract

NORMAL human serum kills Gram-negative bacteria by the antibody-complement system1–4. Killed bacteria are converted to spheroplasts by lysozyme5–8. Subsequent loss of intracellular contents by spheroplasts leaves the empty cytoplasmic membranes or ghosts5,8. Serum action proceeds as follows8, using R for viable bacterial rod, R* for killed rod, S for spheroplast, and G for ghost:

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington

    D. GEMSA, S. D. DAVIS & R. J. WEDGWOOD

Authors
  1. D. GEMSA
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  2. S. D. DAVIS
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  3. R. J. WEDGWOOD
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GEMSA, D., DAVIS, S. & WEDGWOOD, R. Lysozyme and Serum Bactericidal Action. Nature 210, 950–951 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/210950a0

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