Bactericidal properties of lysosomal proteins obtained from human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) examined in vitro. II. Morphological estimation of cells treated with lysosomal proteins.

The present paper is concerned with the action of lysosomal proteins isolated from granulocytes of human peripheral blood on Gram-plus and Gram-minus bacteria. Differences in bacterial sensitivity to these proteins were found. The highest bactericidal activity was observed while bacteria from Staphylococcus and Escherichia were treated with lysosomal proteins. No structural changes in cells of bacteria from Streptococcus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis were observed. The sensitive bacteria cell walls underwent destruction mainly but changes also concerned cytoplasma which was destroyed.