Abstract
Heat-killed cells of Group A streptococci caused death of the adrenalectomized rat. While the adrenalectomized rat readily succumbed to intraperitoneal infection with living cells, death was due primarily to toxicity. The normal rat was highly resistant under either condition. For studies on the toxic materials, the cells of numerous serological types of group A streptococci, and of a Group B and a Group D streptococcus, were extracted with 0.1 N HCl at 100 degrees C. or by sonic oscillation. The extracts, containing macromolecular components, were subjected to chemical fractionation and purification. C substance and M protein of Group A streptococci released from the cell by sonic oscillation were toxic to the adrenalectomized rat in quantities of 1 mg./100 gm. rat. Death usually occurred within 2 hours. On the other hand, C substance and M protein released from the cell with HCl at 100 degrees C. were relatively non-toxic to the adrenalectomized rat. The sonic-extracted C substance of streptococcal Groups B, C, and D was also toxic. The toxic property of the C and M preparations was neutralized in vitro in each case by group and type-specific rabbit antiserum. Heterologous antiserum was without effect. Adrenalectomized rats which received homologous antiserum 18 hours before challenge were also resistant to the toxicity of the C and M preparations. Trypsin destroyed the toxic effect of the M protein preparations and was without effect on the toxicity of the C substance. The R antigen and a nucleoprotein component of Group A streptococci, preparations of protein from Groups B and D streptococci, and coagulase from Staphylococcus aureus were all found to be essentially non-toxicic for the adrenalectomized rat. Large quantities of peptone, crystalline albumin, and rabbit serum were also without effect.
Highlights
Knowledge of the biological and chemical properties of the molecular components of the Group A streptococcal cell should provide valuable information pertaining to the pathogenesis of streptococcal infections
In sharp contrast to the normal rat, the adrenalectomized rat is readily susceptible to Group A streptococcal infection
Difco peptone (100 rag.), crystalline bovine (25 rag.) and egg albumins (25 rag.), and normal rabbit serum (100 rag.) possessed no toxicity upon intravenous injection. These results clearly indicated that the toxic effect of the Group A streptococcus was due to components which were peculiar to the bacterial cell
Summary
Knowledge of the biological and chemical properties of the molecular components of the Group A streptococcal cell should provide valuable information pertaining to the pathogenesis of streptococcal infections. Previous work in this laboratory has shown that exposure of streptococcal cells to sonic oscillation resulted in the release from the cell of macromolecular components containing serologically active C and M antigens [1] and enzymes concerned in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism [2]. The present report will summarize the effect of various macromolecular components isolated from Group A streptococci and other bacterial species upon the adrenalectomized rat
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