Streptomycin-induced Lysis of Penicillin-treated Staphylococci

Abstract

WHEN growing cultures of Escherichia coli are exposed to bactericidal concentrations of penicillin, lysis of the cells occurs after 20–30 min.¹. This lysis appears to be caused by the inhibition by penicillin of synthesis of cell wall mucopeptide with continuing synthesis of other cell constituents, resulting in ‘bursting’ of the cells². Other cases of lysis of bacteria due to such a reduced differential rate of synthesis of cell wall mucopeptide are known, and have recently been reviewed^3,4.