[The lysozyme-synthetizing activity of enterococci and lactobacilli].

Lysozyme-synthesizing activity of a large collection of cultures of lactic-acid bacteria isolated from various natural substrates has been studied. It is shown that the degree of lysozyme production depends on the source of bacteria isolation. Representatives of Enterococcus genus isolated from the digestive tract of long-living people, as well as fishes, geese and ducks are most active among the coccal forms. Manifestation of lysozyme-synthesizing activity in lactobacilli depends on the group and species belonging of strains. It is established that the capacity to produce lysozyme can serve a diagnostic characteristic under identification of lactobacillus of subgenus Betabacterium. Lysozyme produced by lactic acid bacteria is one of the components in the total complex of the mechanism of biological activity of this important group of microorganisms.