Antibacterial Substance in Human Serum Against Non-Pathogenic Staphylococcus

Serum Bacteriostasis of Staphylococcus aureus

“…Inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus growth by serum has been described by several investigators (8,11,18,21,25), but the mechanism of action is not clear. The effect is generally attributed to bactericidins (19), lysozyme (17), C-reactive protein (22), iron-binding protein (24), substances released from white blood cells during clotting (15), or progesterone (32), or a combination of these.…”

“…The effect is generally attributed to bactericidins (19), lysozyme (17), C-reactive protein (22), iron-binding protein (24), substances released from white blood cells during clotting (15), or progesterone (32), or a combination of these. Although human globulins are known to be active inhibitors of S. aureus growth (9,11,27), this action is generally not attributed to antibody because of lack of specificity, reversal of inhibitory action by coagulase, and failure to utilize complement (9,11,18). The biological significance of serum bacteriostasis is obscure.…”