Acceleration of Formol Detoxification of Staphylococcus Toxin by Adsorption

The writer has heretofore presented data 1 2 3 which demonstrate the manner in which various biological products are attenuated by interfacial adsorption. The adsorption agents chosen have been such as are relatively inert and can easily be removed after any desired degree of change has been effected. The present paper includes data which demonstrate the acceleration of the formol detoxification of staphylococcus toxin† by adsorption processes under various conditions. Johlin and Rigdon 4 have demonstrated the relative effect produced on staphylococcus toxin by emulsions of chloroform and ether as adsorption agents. In the present paper a comparison is made of the action of chloroform and of emulsified gases, oxygen and nitrogen, on staphylococcus toxin, both in the presence and in the absence of formaldehyde.

The attenuation of staphylococcus toxin by emulsified gases is very much more effective than that of other toxins, for example, ricin, whose detoxification by emulsified gases has been attempted in this laboratory.

The emulsification of the staphylococcus toxin and the adsorption agent was brought about by shaking in sealed pyrex glass tubes by a mechanical shaking device. When chloroform was used, all noticeable traces of this substance were removed by subsequent evaporation under reduced pressure at a temperature below 40°C. To determine the relative hemolytic activity of treated and untreated toxin, decreasing amounts of toxin, 0.5 cc to 0.0001 cc, were diluted to 1 cc with normal saline in a series of test tubes and mixed with 1 cc of a 2% suspension of the thoroughly washed red blood cells of rabbits. The relative degree of hemolysis was observed after standing over night.

The relative efficiencies of emulsions of chloroform, oxygen and nitrogen, in detoxifying staphylococcus toxin. and their relative acceleration of the process of formol detoxification of this toxin are illustrated in the accompanying tables.