PCR has proved to be a reliable tool for the detection of the diphtheria toxin gene, tox, and its use has allowed for the rapid differentiation between toxigenic and nontoxigenic strains. In this study, this PCR was further developed, evaluated, and standardized to detect this gene directly from clinical specimens. Optimal conditions for collection, transport, and storage of the clinical specim...

OBJECTIVE To determine the persistence of antibody to diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis in children receiving an accelerated schedule of primary immunisation. DESIGN Controlled study of antibody testing of blood samples from children immunised according to various schedules: three doses of triple vaccine completed at 8-13 calendar months, 6-7 calendar months, before 6 calendar months, or thr...

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) has the potential to interact with other vaccines containing diphtheria toxin-like antigens (such as those found in the DTP vaccine) upon sequential administration. This is attributed to the similarity of the diphtheria toxoid antigen to the carrier protein used to make PCV, (known as cross reactive material [CRM]) to diphtheria toxin 197 or CRM197. The inte...

The immunogenicity and protectivity of two different toxoid vaccines were compared in mice. In one formulation, toxoids (diphtheria or tetanus) were adsorbed to alumoxid, whereas in the other formulation the toxoids were crosslinked to immunopotentiating reconstituted influenza virosomes (IRIVs). A preimmunization with influenza antigens is necessary for a good anti-toxoid antibody response whe...

Until recently it could be said that the status of our knowledge of bacterial exotoxins had not changed since Roux and Yersin in 1888 (1) first obt,ained the filtrable diphtheria toxin. Indeed, Topley and Wilson in 1936 (2) stated, “We have not yet. succeeded in isolating any bacterial esotoxin in a chemically pure state, although a considerable degree of ooncentration has been attained by vari...

Toxin of sufficient strength to kill a 400-gramme guinea-pig in three days and a half in a dose of 0.cubic centimetre developed in suitable bouillon, contained in ordinary Erlenmeyer flasks, within a period of twenty-four hours. In such boullon the toxin reached its greatest strength in from four to seven days (0.005 cubic centimetre killing a 500-gramme guinea-pig in three days). This period o...

We compared the abilities of ricin, diphtheria toxin, cycloheximide, and anisomycin to induce apoptosis, using human myeloid leukemia U937 cells at the concentration of each toxin at which almost complete protein synthesis inhibition was attained within 3 h. Among these toxins, anisomycin was found to be the most potent apoptosis inducer. After a 6-h exposure to anisomycin (1 microg/ml), nearly...

Populations of Chinese hamster ovary cells selected for resistance to diphtheria toxin were found to be highly enriched for mutants deficient in the uptake of lysosomal hydrolases via the mannose 6-phosphate receptor. One doubly defective mutant, DTF 1-5-1, exhibited increased resistance to Sindbis virus, although it was able to bind and internalize virus normally. Normal production of virus wa...

The limits of sensitivity of three gel diffusion methods are compared and their utilization in the detection of small amounts of antibody to antigens present in traces in a preparation is illustrated with the diphtheria toxin-human antitoxin system. The Preer modification of the Oakley-Fulthorpe technique and the Oudin tube method were found more sensitive than the Ouchteriony plate method, and...

It had previously been found that the addition of ferrous ion to cultures of the diphtheria bacillus-above that necessary for optimal toxin production-resulted in the disappearance from the culture supernatant of a porphyrin, iron, and diphtheria toxin in the molar ratio of 4:4:1 (Pappenheimer, 1947). On the basis of this data, it was suggested that the toxin was a precursor of the protein moie...