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A Capsule-depolymerizing Enzyme from Alcaligenes faecalis Infected with Bacteriophage A6

Department of Microbiology University of Pretoria

J. A. Smit

Division of Life Sciences, Atomic Energy Board Pretoria, South Africa

Phage-associated enzymes which act on capsules of hosts with the production of plaques surrounded by halos have been reported for a number of capsulated Gramnegative bacteria (Bartell, Orr & Lam, 1966; Chakrabarty, Niblack & Gunsalus, 1967). Organisms in the halos are devoid of capsules but are viable and in some instances become sensitive to the action of different phages. This suggests that hidden phage receptors may have been exposed (Sutherland & Wilkinson, 1965). This communication describes the isolation and action of a capsule-depolymerizing enzyme associated with an Alcaligenes faecalis phage host system.

Alcaligenes faecalis bacteriophage A6 produces plaques with depressed haloes on the capsulated host A. faecalis strain A6 (Maré, de Klerk & Prozesky, 1966). Haloes are not produced on an uncapsulated spontaneous variant A6T of strain A6. The haloproducing agent is a capsule-destroying enzyme.

Received 29 May 1969; accepted 2 July 1969.