[Lysis of the cell walls of streptococcus group A by Streptomyces griseus pronase].

The effect of Streptomyces griseus pronase on Streptococcus group A cell walls was studied. Cell walls were shown to be lysed by pronase, the lysis level being dependent on the molarity of the potassium-phosphate buffer used. With an increase in the buffer molarity from 0.005 M to 0.05 M lysis of cell walls decreased from 70-80% to 30%. By DEAE-cellulose chromatography lysates were separated into two fractions the first of which contained a group specific polysaccharide. A preparative method of obtaining a group specific polysaccharide of Streptococcus group A using Streptomyces griseus pronase under mild conditions is described.