[Pathogenicity factors of melanin-forming strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa].

The data on the capacity of 50 melanogenic and 50 amelanogenic P. aeruginosa strains to produce hemolysins, gelatinase, caseinase, DNAase, RNAase, lecithinase, elastase, neuraminidase and to form extracellular slime, obtained in the comparative study of these strains in vitro, are presented. Melanogenic P. aeruginosa cultures were found to have a higher lecithinase and neuraminidase activity. The strains incapable of melanogenesis formed slime more frequently. The properties of the strains in respect to other pathogenicity characteristics under study were identical.