Bacteriolysis of the Pseudomonads: Ii. Chemical Treatments Affecting the Lytic Response

Various chemical treatments altered the lytic response of the pseudomonads to EDTA–lysozyme–buffer systems. Under acidic conditions (pH 6.0) lysis was impaired; alkaline conditions (pH 8.0) released this impairment. Shrinking and swelling of the cells paralleled the changes in pH. Lysis was inhibited by NaCl (0.1 to 2.0%); the degree of inhibition varied individually with the species. The addition of NaCl resulted in more compact cells. Growing the cultures in a medium containing increased levels of NaCl (1.0 to 5.0%) released the inhibition. Ten percent starch or sucrose, but not glycerol, also inhibited lysis.