Toxin-Production As Related to the Clinical Severity of Diphtheria

[摘要] C. diphtheriae elaborates relatively little toxin in the presence of concentrations of iron present in the throat. In the average case of mild diphtheria comparatively small amounts are probably formed. Severe ( gravis ) diphtheria may result from infection with strains able to produce more toxin in the presence of abundant iron. Three non-gravis types have been shown to produce approximately 3 MLD/ml under these conditions, whereas a gravis type produced 40 MLD. It is probable that a difference of this order is sufficient to explain observed variations in the clinical severity of the disease.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）