Lysostaphin is used to differentiate Staphylococcus from which other genus?

Lysostaphin is an enzyme that specifically targets and lyses staphylococci by cleaving the glycine interpeptide linkages in their cell walls. This enzymatic activity is particularly effective against Staphylococcus species and differentiates them from other genera, such as Micrococcus.

Micrococcus is morphologically similar to Staphylococcus, as both can appear as clusters of cocci, but they are biochemically distinct. When lysostaphin is applied, it does not affect Micrococcus species, allowing for the differentiation between these two genera. This characteristic makes lysostaphin a useful tool in clinical microbiology for accurately identifying and differentiating pathogenic staphylococci from benign or environmental Micrococcus species, which are part of the normal flora.

This differentiation is essential for diagnosing infections caused by Staphylococcus, as it helps in determining the appropriate course of treatment. In contrast, other genera listed, such as Streptococcus, Stomatococcus, and Planococcus, do not share this specific response to lysostaphin, making them less relevant in this context of differentiation.