DERMATITIS‐PRODUCING ALGA <i>LYNGBY A MAJUSCULA</i> GOMONT IN HAWAII. II. BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF THE TOXIC FACTOR¹,²

Abstract

SUMMARY The course of the reaction produced by intracutaneous injection of the toxin of Lyngbya majuscula Gomont is that of a severe acute inflammatory reaction. No protective or sensitizing effect is induced by a previous exposure. The response from intravenous injection into a rat indicates that the toxin acts as a general cell toxin. The protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis and rabbit erythrocytes are lysed by the toxic principle, which also possesses antibacterial activity. Of the organisms tested, Mycobacterium species are markedly inhibited, while Bacillus cereus, Gaffkya tetragena , and Sarcina lutea are slightly to moderately inhibited. Other components of the alga, which are steam distillable, have been found to have antibacterial activity but are not involved in the skin reaction.