Studies on Corynebacterium diphtheriae

II. Desoxyribonuclease Activity of Corynebacterium

Abstract

Admittedly, our knowledge about desoxyribonuclease (DNase) activity of pathogenic microorganisms, save staphylococcus has been still scarce. It is only recently that studies on DNase of corynebacterium. (Cory.) diphtherae have begun appearing in medical literatures.
In this repert, 101 Cory. Diphtheriae strains, 38 Cory. belfanti, 6 Cory. ulcerans, 1 Cory. hoffmanni, 1 Cory. pyogenes, and 1 Cory. equi were investigated for their ability to produce DNase.
The results are as follows:
All Cory. diphtheriae strains investigated were DNase-positive regardless of their toxigenicity. Cory. belfanti, Cory. ulcerans and Cory. pyogenes were found to be DNase-positive, while Cory. hoffmanni and Cory. equi were DNase-negative.