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Abstract
Concentrated culture fitrates from Bacillus subtilis, with high gelatinase activity, disintegrated hide powder although unable to attack native collagen; they also haemolysed the red blood cells of a number of species. The concentrated filtrates were dermonecrotic in rabbits and lethal on intravenous injection into mice. There was no conclusive evidence that the factors responsible for any of these effects were autigenic. Although each of the in vitro and in vivo activities was destroyed by heat, the haemolytic activity was more resistant than the others. Fresh normal sera from many species inhibited each of the three properties shown in vitro. Tests with gelatinase showed that inhibition occurred rapidly and in multiple proportions. The inhibitory action was diminished by heat and storage and was distinct from the antitryptic property of serum.
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