Chitinolytic activity in viable spores of encephalitozoon species

By employing 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-NN',N "-triacetylchitotriose subst rate in a semi quantitative assay chitinolytic activity in viable spores of Encephalitozoon cuniculi and E. intestinalis was detected and dependence o n reaction time, spare concentration, concentration of substrate and temper ature were demonstrated. It was possible to block the chitinolytic activity by chitin hydrolysate. By incubation at 80 degrees C for 10 min ai at 55 d egrees C for 20 min the spores were loosing the chitinolytic activity. Incu bation of the spores in trypsin reduced the chitinolytic activity. Cellulas e activity could not be detected.