The effect of polysaccharide depolymerizing enzyme in gel diffusion and haemagglutination studies

Abstract

Enzyme causing depolymerization of homologous polysaccharide is released during the lytic cycle of phage infection of certain encapsulated bacteria. A study of an enzyme active on Klebsiella pneumoniae type 2 polysaccharide showed that in gel diffusion tests it was capable of disrupting precipitates composed of polysaccharide and homologous antibody. This reaction was specifically inhibited by a rabbit anti-enzyme serum. In haemagglutination tests polysaccharide coated cells failed to agglutinate with antiserum after exposure to high enzyme concentrations. Similarly, enzyme treated polysaccharide was incapable of inhibiting agglutination of substrate coated cells.