Comparison of Purified Alpha-Toxins from Various Strains of Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Alpha-toxin from five strains of Staphylococcus aureus, including Wood 46, was purified by isoelectric focusing. The alpha-toxins obtained from different strains were similar. The isoelectric point of the purified toxins was 8.65 I 0.15. Sharp concentration peaks were not always obtained. In the ultracentrifuge the alpha-toxins migrated usually as three peaks which could be dissociated with propionic acid to yield one peak. A single line of identity was obtained in immunoelectrophoresis when a heterologous antiserum was reacted with the five purified toxins. It was concluded that the widespread use of the Wood 46 strain for the production of alpha-toxin is justified.

The hemolysins of Staphylococcus aureus.

“…Alpha A and alpha I are the main com-1nents with the same pI, and are reputed to ,OWN interconversion to alpha B and alpha IV, 0pectively. Other investigators (56,72,73) 1ve also noted pl values in the region of 8.5. E and Haque 2 have described an alpha and pha-1 hemolysin on the basis of results obined with Haque's electrophoretic localiza-)n technique. One (alpha) lysed erythrocytes rabbits, sheep, and horses whereas the other Ipha-1) lysed only those of the rabbit.…”

“…Even though Wood 46 alpha hemolysin has been widely examined, published data are not uniform. Comparative studies of hemolysin produced by different strains are required (see Goode and Baldwin,73). Other sources of variation are the way in which the hemolysin is handled as it is purified and how it is produced.…”