Fibrinolytic, Anticoagulating and Plasma-Clotting Properties of Staphylococci

Abstract

In 1908, Much showed that plasma which had been coagulated by the plasma-clotting factor of staphylococci, may become redissolved. He attributed the lysis of the plasma clot to the action of a staphylococcus fibrinolysin. His observations were confirmed by Kleinschmidt (

The Coagulation of Plasma by Staphylococci

“…Bacterial anticoagulants. Neter (1937) claimed that most staphylococci from lesions of man produce an anticoagulant when grown on media containing carbohydrate but Schoenlein (personal communication) found that 1 per cent starch, and we find that 1 per cent lactose, does not inhibit coagulase-producing power.…”

A study of 435 strains of Staphylococcus pyogenes with reference to factors which may contribute to pathogenicity

“…Selbie and Simon (1952), in their study of the virulence to mice of Staphylo-COCCUB pyogenw, found high fibrinolytic activity to be associated with progressive lesions. Neter (1937) found staphylococcal fibrinolysin and anti-coagulant in exudates from human lesions, as well as R specific anti-fibrinolysin in the serum of pa.tients suffering fro111 staphylococcal infections. Aoi (1932) 140 strains of staphylococci dissolve Congo red fibrin and claimed to have produced anti-fibrinolysin by intravenous injection of an "autolysate" into a rabbit.…”

The Pathogenic Staphylococci

“…In contrast to the rapid action of the latter, which is often a matter of less than one hour, staphylococcal fibrinolysin often requires several days to bring about dissolution of a plasma clot, and many hours to liquefy a clot obtained from fibrinogen solution (73). A serologic distinction between staphylococcal and streptococcal fibrinolysins has been made (173,194). When many hours of incubation are required to demonstrate fibrinolysis, complicating factors are introduced by the retraction of the clot from the sides of the tube, and by the tendency of fibrinogen clots to spontaneous lysis (246).…”

“…Relatively few strains of staphylococci from human pathologic sources were reported to dissolve plasma clot by Tillett and Garner (247), Fisher (73), and Neter (194). A larger proportion was found by Fisher to dissolve fibrinogen clots, and Aoi (3) reported that 88 per cent of staphylococci dissolved Congo-redfibrin.…”

“…In common with several other bacterial species, staphylococci produce an anticoagulant, which must be distinguished from fibrinolysin (194). It inhibits coagulation of both human and ammal plasma, is produced in broth containing fermentable carbohydrates, but not in plain broth, and is not antigenic.…”