Deoxyribonuclease (DNase) produced by Serratia marcescens is a characteristic feature which is useful in distinguishing this organism from closely related members of the Enterobacteriaceae. In an assessment of three methods of performing the DNase test as a screening procedure for Serratia marcescens, the conclusion was reached that the standard test was most suitable for use in the clinical ba...

Fibrinolytic enzymes, particularly streptokinase, are now widely used to treat empyema thoracis. Recent in vitro evidence suggests that streptokinase has no effect on pus viscosity but that deoxyribonuclease (DNase) reduces the viscosity of pus. We report the first use of human recombinant DNase given intrapleurally to treat an empyema which had not resolved after standard treatment with strept...

Enzyme activities of Cenococcum geophilum isolates were examined on enzyme-specific solid media. Deoxyribonuclease, phosphatase, and urease were detected in all isolates, whereas cellulase was not detected in any of the isolates. Variations in enzyme activities of amylase, caseinolysis, gelatinase, lipase, and ribonuclease were observed among isolates.

In a previous paper Armstrong and White (1950) described studies on purulent bronchial and pleural exudates, showing that extracellular fibres of deoxyribonucleoprotein were responsible for much of their viscidity. Deoxyribonuclease prepared from beef pancreas destroyed these fibres and reduced the viscidity of the exudates both in vitro and in vivo. To determine whether this is of any practica...