Abstract
To study the role of exolipases in staphylococcal disease, we examined the effect of the uptake of free fatty acids, the reaction products of the lipases, on growth and toxin production ofStaphylococcus aureus.
We were able to demonstrate that, in contrast to an acetate medium, the growth ofStaphylococcus aureus is accelerated by oleic acid, but on the other hand, that this activation of the bacteria is not accompanied by an increased production of toxin (β-hemolysin) by the individual bacterium.
The role of exolipases in the pathogenesis of staphylococcal diseases has been discussed. It is possible that they play an indirect role in the pathogenesis by liberating free fatty acids with the consequence of an increased rate of growth of these pathogens, but without an increased toxin production by the single organism, especially as this production only begins with decrease or termination of growth.
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References
Fritsche, D.: Untersuchungen zur Funktion desβ-Hämolysins von Staphylokokkus aureus. Zbl. Bakt., I. Abt. Orig.213, 348–355 (1970).
Fritsche, D.: Die Bolle der Lipasen für den Lipoid- und Gesamtstoffwechsel von Staphylokokkus aureus. Zbl. Bakt., I. Abt. Orig.217, 483–500 (1971).
Wiseman, G. M.: Some Characteristics of theβ-Hemolysin of Staphylococcus aureus. J. Path. Bact.89, 187–207 (1965).
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Fritsche, D., Zitz, M. The effect of the uptake of free fatty acids on the growth and the β-hemolysin production ofStaphylococcus aureus . Med Microbiol Immunol 158, 185–191 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02120554
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02120554