Effects of Lysostaphin and Its Two Active Components on Stable Wall-Defective Forms of Staphylococcus aureus

Stable wall-defective forms of Staphylococcus aureus were shown to be susceptible to lysostaphin. The principal action of lysostaphin on these wall-defective staphylococci resulted from the activity of its minor active component, hexosaminidase. It is postulated that lysostaphin has an additional site of action on S. aureus over and above its presently known action on the cell wall.