SPHEROPLAST INDUCTION AND LYSIS OF BCG STRAINS BY GLYCINE AND LYSOZYME

Spheroplast induction and lysis of 6 BCG strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by glycine and lysozyme was studied in various media. Spheroplast production was noted in only three strains involving 20% of cell populations. Lysis, as distinct from spheroplast induction, occurred in Dubos medium containing 1.5% glycine and 0.01% lysozyme after 24–48 hours of incubation. Estimation from a standard curve indicated 40 to 70% lysis of the total cell population after 7–10 days of incubation.Similarly, lysis of BCG cells occurred when the inducers, glycine, lysozyme, and lithium chloride, were added to nitrogen-starved cultures grown in Aldridge synthetic medium for 7 to 8 days.