Production of staphylocoagulase in a special medium.

Occasional reports over the past several decades have indicated that coagulase production by Staphylococcus aureus (Microcuccus pyogenes var. aureus), in various media could be enhanced by the addition of whole blood or plasma (Fisher, 1936). MIore recently, attempts have been made to produce special media which would permit the elaboration of coagulase but little success has been achieved (Lominski et al., 1950). On the whole, only limited progress has been made toward the elucidation of the optimal conditions for coagulase production (Davies, 1951; Duthie, 1954); for example, Davies suggested that a factor contained in heart infusion and partially replaceable by peptone is necessary for maximum coagulase yields. The present report deals with the production of coagulase in a derivative of heart infusion broth and a characterization of its coagulase production capacity.