Toxin Produced by Malleomyces pseudomallei.

Abstract

1. Malleomyces pseudomallei produced in broth cultures a toxin which was lethal for both mice and hamsters. 2. Intradermal inoculation of bacteria-free filtrates of broth cultures of Malleomyces pseudomallei produced an edematous, erythematous and hemorrhagic lesion in normal guinea pigs. Boiled filtrates produced only delayed erythema and edema, suggesting the presence of a thermolabile component which was responsible for the hemorrhagic lesion. 3. The potency of the toxin did not appear to be related to the colonial morphology.