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J Bacteriol. 1967 July; 94(1): 224-231
Copyright © 1967 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Platelet Damaging Factor, a Fifth Activity of Staphylococcal {alpha}-Toxin1

M. Manohar2, S. K. Maheswaran, S. P. Frommes and Robert K. Lindorfer

Department of Veterinary Bacteriology and Public Health, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101

ABSTRACT

Crude and purified staphylococcal {alpha}-toxin were used to demonstrate that the platelet-damaging effect of crude {alpha}-toxin represents a fifth activity of the {alpha}-toxin molecule. The homogeneity of the purified toxin employed was demonstrated by ultracentrifugation, Ouchterlony, and immunoelectrophoretic methods. Continuous-flow electrophoretic migration studies demonstrated under a variety of conditions that the platelet-damaging and the {alpha}-hemolytic activities migrated as a unit. Fractionation studies with the use of Sephadex G-100, carboxymethyl cellulose, and diethylaminoethyl cellulose failed to separate these two activities. Further, when {alpha}-toxin of demonstrated purity and crude toxin were adjusted to the same hemolytic activity, they possessed the same platelet-damaging activity. In addition, heat-reactivation studies with crude {alpha}-toxin revealed that the platelet-damaging effect was inactivated and reactivated in parallel with {alpha}-hemolytic activity. Comparable studies with purified {alpha}-toxin showed parallel inactivation of both activities at 60 C. Additional heating at 100 C failed to reactivate either activity. Electron micrographs revealed that purified {alpha}-toxin produced distinct degenerative changes in rabbit platelets. These studies also provided definite evidence that purified {alpha}-toxin has a damaging effect on human platelets. Monovalent {alpha}-antisera prevented platelet damage.

FOOTNOTES

2 Present address: Medical College, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India.

1 Approved for publication as Scientific Journal Series Paper 6218, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.

J Bacteriol. 1967 July; 94(1): 224-231
Copyright © 1967 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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Copyright © 1967 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.