Evaluation of four commercial test systems for identification of actinomyces and some closely related species.

We evaluated four commercially available kits for rapid identification of Actinomyces and related species. The kits identified correctly 26 to 65% of "classical" Actinomyces strains to the species level and 13 to 49% of newly described Actinomyces strains to the genus level, thus indicating relatively poor applicability and a need to update these kits.

Activation of interstitial collagenase, MMP-1, by Staphylococcus aureus cells having surface-bound plasmin: a novel role of plasminogen receptors of bacteria.

Plasmin, the enzymatically active form of plasminogen, can activate several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). In this study, we investigated the activation of MMP-1, one of the major interstitial collagenases, by plasmin which was generated on the surface of Staphylococcus aureus cells. Plasmin bound to plasminogen receptors on S.