Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T14:58:37.824Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Observations on the Toxic Fractions of Scarlatinal Streptococci

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

C. A. Green
Affiliation:
(From the Bacteriology Department, Edinburgh University)
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

1. Among a series of strains of haemolytic streptococci from thirty-five cases of scarlatina in the first week of illness, fourteen were found to correspond with one or other of Griffith's serological types I, II, III and IV.

2. Of these fourteen strains, twelve were selected for further examination and found to yield a true heat-labile exotoxin completely inactivated by heating for 30 min. at 100° C.

3. The concentration of exotoxin in 0·5 per cent, glucose broth cultures was at a maximum after 96 hours' incubation, and thereafter on further incubation progressively diminished.

4. No qualitative difference could be detected among the exotoxins from the different strains, the test criterion being the dermal reaction in Dick-positive persons.

5. Cultures of organisms of the same or different serological type isolated from the same source and thereafter similarly treated yielded approximately equivalent amounts of exotoxin.

6. Broth culture filtrates also contained an acid-insoluble toxic fraction, the concentration of which increased with the age of culture and which appeared to be identical with a similar acid-insoluble fraction derived from an alkaline extract of washed bacterial bodies.

7. This acid-insoluble fraction was extremely heat-resistant, 3 hours' boiling at 100° C. being required for inactivation. In this respect the acid-insoluble fraction corresponded to the bacterial endotoxins.

8. The acid-insoluble fractions from cultures of the same serological type produced equivalent skin reactions in susceptible persons.

9. The acid-insoluble fractions from cultures of different serological types differed qualitatively as determined by skin reactions.

10. The reaction to crude filtrate was found to be the sum of the reactions to the exotoxin fraction and to the acid-insoluble fraction present in the filtrate.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1935

References

Ando, K., Kurauchi, K. and Ojaki, K. (1927). J. Immunol. 15, 191.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ando, K., Kurauchi, K. and Nishimura, H. (1930). J. Immunol. 18, 223.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bliss, W. P. (1920). Bull. Johns Hop. Hosp. 31, 173.Google Scholar
Dick, G. F. and Dick, G. H. (1923). J. Amer. Med. Assoc. 132, 265.Google Scholar
Dick, G. F. and Dick, G. H. (1924). J. Amer. Med. Assoc. 133, 84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eagles, G. H. (1924). Brit. J. Exp. Path. 5, 199.Google Scholar
Eagles, G. H. (1926). Brit. J. Exp. Path. 7, 286.Google Scholar
Gibson, H. J. and McGibbon, J. P. (1932). Lancet, I, 729.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gibson, H. J., Thomson, W. A. R. and Stewart, D. (1933). Arch. Dis. Child. 8, 57.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gordon, M. H. (1921). Brit. Med. J. 1, 632.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Griffith, F. (1926). J. Hyg. 25, 385.Google Scholar
Griffith, F. (1927). J. Hyg. 26, 363.Google Scholar
Henry, H. and Lewis, F. C. (1925). Lancet, I, 710.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hooker, S. B. and Follensby, E. M. (1934). J. Immunol. 27, 177.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
James, G. R. (1926). J. Hyg. 25, 415.Google Scholar
Kirkbride, M. B. and Wheeler, M. W. (1927). J. Immunol. 13, 19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mackie, T. J. and McLachlan, D. G. S. (1926). Brit. J. Exp. Path. 7, 41.Google Scholar
McLachlan, D. G. S. (1927). J. Hyg. 26, 84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McLachlan, D. G. S. and Mackie, T. J. (1928). J. Hyg. 27 225.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moser, P. and v. Pirquet, C. (1902). Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. 15, 1086.Google Scholar
Pulvertaft, R. T. V. (1928). Brit. J. Exp. Path. 9, 276.Google Scholar
Smith, J. (1926). J. Hyg. 25, 165.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, J. (1927). J. Hyg. 26, 420.Google Scholar
Stevens, F. A. and Dochez, A. R. (1926). J. Exp. Med. 93, 379.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Toyoda, T., Futagi, Y. and Okamoto, M. (1931). J. Infect. Dis. 46, 350.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zingher, A. (1924). J. Amer. Med. Assoc. 133, 432.CrossRefGoogle Scholar