The lytic effect of lysolecithin on acholeplasmas and mycoplasmas.

Lysolecithin exhibits a lytic activity on acholeplasmas and mycoplasmas. The acholeplasmas studied, viz. Acholeplasma laidlawii A and B, were found less susceptible than were the mycoplasmas, viz. Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. pneumoniae. The sensitivity to lysis was found to differ according to species, growth temperature and number of organisms used. Variations in age of the population and the concentration of bivalent ions in the test medium had but little influence. The greatest lytic activity of lysolecithin was found at the optimal growth temperature and decreased with lowering of the temperature. This lytic activity was inversely proportional to the density of the cell suspensions used. The possible mechanism of the lytic effect of lysolecithin is discussed.