Science of hemolytic activity of some radiation-resistant micrococci in food.

Micrococci resistant to 1 Mrad of gamma radiation were isolated from irradiated chicken. Three isolates were hemolytic on blood agar plates and were selected for further study. Two other radiation-resistant micrococci, Micrococcus radiodurans and Micrococcus radiophilus, were included in the study because there is only a very limited amount of information regarding hemolytic activity of these organisms and their potential role of public health importance. Tests to determine hemolytic patterns, hemolytic activity of extracellular substances, leukocytic activity, presence of enzymes commonly associated with pathogenicity (coagulase, deoxyribonuclease, phosphatase), and pathogenicity for laboratory animals all suggested that the organisms would not be of public health significance.