Recent Chemical Investigations of Bacterial Toxins.

Part I. The Production of Bacterial Toxins .. 4 1. The use of media of simplified composition.......................... 4 2. The possible relationship of oxidation-reduction systems to the formation of toxins............................................. 6 3. Other factors affecting the formation of toxins .......... .......... 8 4. Toxins as products of secretion, autolysis, or the action of enzymes on the medium................................................. 9 Part II. Purification and Chemical Nature of Bacterial Toxins. .11 1. Concentration, partial purification, and separation of toxins ....... 11 a. Toxins of the hemolytic streptococcus, pneumococcus, and staphylococcus.............................................. 12 b. Toxins of the Salmonella, Proteus, colon, and dysentery groups of organisms .............................. ................... 16 2. Purification of bacterial toxins...................................... 17 3. Criteria of purity................................................... 20 4. Hydrolysis, digestion, and analysis of toxins........................ 22 Part III. The Changes Produced by the Action of Various Physical and Chemical Agents on Toxins............................................ 24 1. Denaturation....................................................... 24 2. Agents which produce destruction, denaturation, or modification.. 25 3. The action of formaldehyde......................................... 27 4. The action of soaps, lipids, and sterols on bacterial toxins........... 31 5. The effect of various chemicals on toxins and other substances that act on red blood cells........................................... 33 6. The effect of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) on diphtheria toxin in vitro and in vivo..................................................... 35