Further Studies on the Meningococcus with Special Reference to the Shwartzman Reaction

[摘要] In recently reported experiments dealing with the Shwartzman toxic principle of meningococci (1) we have verified the fact that an injury-producing substance may be prepared from these organisms (2). Also we have noted neutralization effects of a moderate degree, and have used the Shwartzman reaction in order to investigate further antimeningococcic sera.It appears that the exact nature of the Shwartzman meningococcus toxic principle, in common with that from other bacteria, has not yet been fully determined. Shwartzman has presented evidence, including multiple proportion neutralization experiments, indicating that this toxic principle resembles exotoxin. Burnet (3) in an interesting paper has pointed out the similarity of the Shwartzman toxic principle to endotoxin. His research indicates a greater degree of similarity between the Shwartzman toxic principle and endotoxin than with any other known bacterial substance. Burnet inclines to the view that the Shwartzman toxic principle is not of itself antigenic, and that neutralization effects of homologous antiserum may be attributed to bacterial substance usually associated with the toxic principle.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）