Mechanism of coagulase production in Staphylococcus aureus Smith.

Coagulase production and release were studied in Staphylococcus aureus Smith using TC Medium 199 containing bovine serum albumin. The bacteria released coagulase continuously in the medium containing serum albumin, but only at the early-mid log phase of growth in the medium not containing serum albumin. In each of the media, coagulase was considered to be a newly synthesized one encoded by a newly synthesized messenger RNA. By the experiments using bacteria pre-treated with acridine orange, it was suggested that the coagulase gene was located on the chromosome. The plasmid regulating coagulase production was considered to be present.