[Evaluation of phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus with the aid of lysostaphin (author's transl)].

The Staphylococcus aureus strains HV 1 and K 807 were lyzed by lysostaphin. S. epidermis E 1 and staphylococci extracted with guanidinium chloride were resistant to lysostaphin-induced lysis. In the phagocytosis of S. aureus lysostaphin proved to be most useful for the differentiation between engulfed and extracellular staphylococci, particularly those attached to the surface of the polymorphonuclear granulocytes. It enabled a better recognition of the phagocytized staphylococci and therefore a more precise analysis of the phagocytosis experiments. A further improvement in the evaluation of phagocytosis was possible by the use of radioisotope labelling of staphylococci. This technique in combination with lysostaphin, might be useful for large-scale phagocytosis studies.