[Effect of magnesium ions on Staphylococcus aureus sensitivity to streptomycin].

The causes of the protective effect of magnesium ions on sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus to aminoglycosides were studied. It was found that the cation effect on accumulation of the biomass in the presence of streptomycin was first of all due to a decrease in the capacity of the bacterial cells to accumulate the antibiotic because of blocking the antibiotic receptors on the cell wall surface. The nature of the receptors is discussed.

[Interaction of acridine orange with teichoic acids of Staphylococcus aureus].

Teichoic acids of the cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus 209-P belong to the class of ribitol teichoic acids and can bind actively the molecules or acridine orange, changing its optical properties. The intravital fluorochromy of the cells with acridine orange may be caused by the sorption of its molecules by the teichoic acids of the cell wall.

[Teichoic acids as possible acridine orange acceptors on the surface of staphylococcal cell walls].

A study was made of acridine orange adsorption by the surface structures of intact Staphylococcus aureus (209-P strain) cells and their cellular walls. Acridine orange sorption by the cells and the cellular wall of staphylococcus depended on the content of teichoic acids in the object under study. A conclusion was drawn that teichoic acids of the cellular walls of Staph.