coagulase

enzyme

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Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

Coagulase is an enzyme that causes blood to clot. This enzyme is produced by Staphylococcus aureus, a common bacterium found in humans and the environment. When S. aureus causes an infection, coagulase helps the bacteria to persist in tissues by forming a protective clot, which can lead to abscesses. The coagulase test is used to identify if an infection is caused by S. aureus. Some substances that contribute to the virulence of pathogenic bacteria, like coagulase, increase the bacteria's resistance to phagocytosis, which is the process where defense cells engulf and destroy foreign particles.123

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Staphylococcus aureus
Characteristics
…produce an enzyme known as coagulase; when secreted by infectious S. aureus, coagulase causes blood to clot, thereby enabling the bacteria to persist in tissues and cause the development of abscesses. The coagulase test is used to determine whether an infection is caused by S. aureus.
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…produce an enzyme known as coagulase; when secreted by infectious S. aureus, coagulase causes blood to clot, thereby enabling the bacteria to persist in tissues and cause the development of abscesses. The coagulase test is used to determine whether an infection is caused by S. aureus.
Read More