Explanation of Lysozyme
*Information quoted from medical research and manufacturer of lysozyme

FUNCTIONS
Bacteria against which Lysozyme Chloride (Lysozyme HCL) has shown effectiveness: Clostridia Butyricum, Clostridia Sporogenes, Clostridia Tyrobutyricum, Strep, E Coli, Staff, Gram+ and some Gram-, Listeria Monocytogenes Scott A etc. Test also show topically applied Lysozyme Chloride breaks down 650 different types of viruses, bacteria, and diseases.

Main Entry: ly·so·zyme
: a basic bacteriolytic protein that hydrolyzes peptidoglycan and is present in in saliva and tears.

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Lysozyme is an enzyme found in egg white, tears, and other secretions. It is responsible for breaking down the polysaccharide walls of many kinds of bacteria and thus it provides some protection against infection.

lysozyme
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/L/Lysozyme.html

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Lysozyme binds to the elastin component of elastic fibers and that this interaction has important biological consequences for elastic fiber degradation. By preventing degradation of elastin, lysozyme can function as an important natural inhibitor that exerts a protective effect on elastic fibers at sites of tissue injury.

Journal of Investigative Dermatology
Lysozyme Binds to Elastin and Protects Elastin from Elastase-Mediated Degradation
http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/v106/n5/abs/5610519a.html

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Lysozyme is an enzyme (EC 3.2.1.17), commonly referred to as the "body's own antibiotic". It is abundantly present in a number of secretions, such as tears. This protein is present in cytoplasmic granules of the polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and released to the mucosal secretions.

This enzyme functions by attacking peptidoglycan by hydrolyzing the bond that connects N-acetylmuramic acid with carbon four of N-acetylglucosamine.

Bio Medicine
Lysozyme
http://www.bio-medicine.org/biology-definition/Lysozyme/#

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The antimicrobial actions of lysozyme are protean. Lysozyme damages the cell walls of bacteria and fungi by hydrolyzing the ß1–4 glycosidic bond between N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetylglucosamine, which are structural components of bacterial peptidoglycan and fungal chitin, respectively. Lysozyme also can kill bacteria by nonenzymatic means.

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
Lysozyme in Pulmonary Host Defense
http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/full/169/4/435

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The antibacterial properties of lysozyme were investigated with oral microorganisms representing the seven serotypes (a through g) of Streptococcus mutans, Veillonella alcalescens, and the virulent (V) and avirulent (AV) strains of Actinomyces viscosus T14.

Lysozyme is a selective but effective antibacterial factor for microorganisms.

Infect Immun. 1980 August; 29(2): 623–632.
Antibacterial Properties of Lysozyme
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=551169

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Lysozyme which is known to be antimicrobial, breaks the walls of gram positive bacteria.

U. S. Food and Drug Administration
Public Meeting on Salmonella Enteritidis Research
http://www.foodsafety.gov/~dms/egg0900.html

ACTIVITY
Biologically, Lysozyme Chloride(Lysozyme HCL) attacks the cell wall of certain bacteria. By nicking the cell in numerous spots, Lysozyme Chloride(Lysozyme HCL) gradually weakens the wall. When the osmotic pressure within the cell is too much for the weakened wall to withstand, the bacterium will burst. The cell-wall lysing function is where the egg white enzyme received its name.

References:

http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/L/Lysozyme.html
http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/v106/n5/abs/5610519a.html
http://www.bio-medicine.org/biology-definition/Lysozyme/#
http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/full/169/4/435
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=551169
http://www.foodsafety.gov/~dms/egg0900.html