National Collection of Type Cultures, London, N.W. 9'

SUMMARY: A method for the detection of small quantities of chitinase in culture fluids is described and the results of a survey of representative species of the main groups of bacteria presented. Chitinase is produced by some but not all of the soil and water bacteria. Chitinase appears to be a constitutive enzyme in many species of bacteria; its occurrence may prove of diagnostic value. Chitin decomposition is known to be initiated by a large number of bacterial species isolated from marine deposits or from soil (Campbell & Williams, 1951; Veldkamp, 1955). During a search for a convenient source of chitinase (Tracey, 19553) a number of cultures of bacteria of medical provenance as well as soil and plant pathogenic organisms were examined. A surprising number of organisms, including human pathogens, was found to produce chitinase, and it seems possible that this property may be of diagnostic value