Serotype B staphylococcal bacteriophage singly converting staphylokinase

Abstract

A new staphylococcal phage, Pphi-2, which could convert the capability of producing staphylokinase, was isolated. The phage is different from the phage reported by Winkler and co-workers [Nature(London) 195:407-408, 1962; J. Gen. Microbiol. 39:321-333, 1965]. The former is a single-converting phage belonging to serotype B, but the latter is a serotype F phage capable of converting not only staphylokinase but also beta-hemolysin. Staphylokinase, i.e., the fibrinolysin produced by Staphylococcus aureus, therefore, can now be classified into three types. One is controlled by the genes on the bacterial chromosome, and the other two are mediated by lysogenic conversion by prophage Pphi-2 and the classical phage reported by Winkler and co-workers.