Lecithinase

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Lecithinase is a type of phospholipase that acts upon lecithin.[1][2]

It can be produced by Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus or Listeria monocytogenes . C. perfringens alpha toxin (lecithinase) causes myonecrosis and hemolysis. The lecithinase of S. aureus is used in detection of coagulase-positive strains, because of high link between lecithinase activity and coagulase activity.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hanahan DJ (April 1954). "The site of action of lecithinase A of lecithin". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 207 (2): 879–84. PMID 13163073. 
  2. ^ Sibinovic KH, Brown FA, Pettigrew KD, Vought RL (January 1971). "Lecithin-agar assay for lecithinase antibodies in serum". Applied microbiology. 21 (1): 98–103. PMC 377125Freely accessible. PMID 4322282.