[Bacterial lysis by lysozyme].

We confirmed the previous reports of Fleming, Nakamura et al. on the inability of lysozyme to lyse Micrococcus lysodeikticus cells at an acidic pH (3.0 - 3.5). In these conditions, lysozyme binds to the mucopolysaccharides of the cell wall without showing any lytic activity; lysis occurs at very high rate when pH is raised at neutral values by adding alkaline solutions. Our results were obtained by monitoring bacterial cultures both in aqueous solutions and on agar plates.