HYALURONIDASE ACTIVITY IN HUMAN PUS FROM WHICH STREPTOCOCCUS-INTERMEDIUS WAS ISOLATED

Hyaluronidase (HAase) activity was detected in both a human pus sample and the culture supernatant of the only bacterial isolate from the pu s, Streptococcus intermedius, using a zymographic technique. The optim um pH range for HAase activity was similar for both samples. Although the bands showing the strongest HAase activity of these samples differ ed from each other with respect to molecular size, both samples were e qually inhibited by an antiserum raised against HAase of S. intermediu s. These results suggest that S. intermedius may produce HAase in vivo as well as in vitro, and that this enzyme and/or its fragments may pl ay an important role in host tissue degradation.