[Action of thomicide on bacterial cells. The membranotropic activity of thomicide].

It was shown that a combined drug thomicide impaired permeability of cell membranes in Micrococcus luteus 2665 and Staphylococcus aureus 209P inducing production of substances with the absorption maxima at 260 nm. Active lysis of the M. luteus 2665 protoplasts under the action of thomicide used in a dose of at least 60 micrograms per 1 mg of the protoplast proteins was observed. Thomicide inhibited oxidation of the substrates by intact cells of the staphylococci and micrococci. Respiration of the micrococcal protoplasts was inhibited by thomicide in concentrations inducing lysis of the protoplasts. Impairment of function and the state of the membranes of the bacterial cells (production of compounds with the absorption maxima at 260 nm, protoplast lysis and respiration inhibition) was recorded at thomicide concentrations lower than the bactericidal ones. The membranotropic activity of thomicide was associated with thermostable component of the complex.