Dextran-destroying Enzyme of Molds

The cornea-destroying enzyme of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The harvest media from five strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa collected from severe clinical infections did not contain a collagenase. Instead, an enzyme was isolated that could degrade the ground substance of the cornea. Partial purification of this enzyme indicated that it was the only enzyme in the harvest media that cotdd destroy the rabbit cornea after intralamellar injection. Na2EDTA comp...

Destroying Civilization, Destroying Nature

Synthesis of enzyme-degradable, peptide-cross-linked dextran hydrogels.

Hydrogels derived from synthetic polymers have been previously engineered to degrade under the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). It is believed that these systems can act as extracellular-matrix (ECM) equivalents mimicking the degradation and remodeling of the ECM through the activity of cell-secreted enzymes. In this study, MMP-sensitive hydrogels derived from dextran were develope...

Methods of destroying bacterial spores

The spores of Bacillus spp. are found widely distributed in nature, which may cause contamination of the environment and eventually diseases to humans and animals. The formation of the bacterial spore is a sophisticated mechanism by which some bacteria remain viable inadequate when subjected to survival stress such as lack of nutrients. The spores are highly resistant to heat, radiation, variou...

Characterization of the receptor-destroying enzyme activity from infectious salmon anaemia virus.

Infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) infects cells via the endocytic pathway and, like many other enveloped viruses, ISAV contains a receptor-destroying enzyme. We have analysed this acetylesterase activity with respect to substrate specificity, enzyme kinetics, inhibitors, temperature and pH stability. The ISAV acetylesterase was inhibited by di-isopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) in a dose-depe...