EFFECTS PRODUCED BY THE INTRAVENOUS INJECTION IN MAN OF A TOXIC ANTIGENIC MATERIAL DERIVED FROM EBERTHELLA TYPHOSA: CLINICAL, HEMATOLOGICAL, CHEMICAL AND SEROLOGICAL STUDIES

Abstract

The preparation of purified antigenic materials from cultures of Eberthella typhosa (1, 2) has demonstrated that substances of relative purity, and high antigenic and toxic activity, may be iso- lated for study. In investigations utilizing a syn- thetic medium for the culture of E. typhosa (3), which eliminates the possibility of non-specific contaminating materials (derived from the culture medium), a toxic, antigenic material has been isolated which has been extensively studied. This material acts as a complete antigen, giving rise to the formation of agglutinins (4), precipitins (4), bactericidal antibodies (5), and mouse-protective antibody (6). Possessing marked toxicity, it kills mice, rabbits, and guinea pigs with relatively small doses (4). A study of the tissues obtained from animals receiving intravascular injections of the material has shown pathological changes in- volving the heart muscle, lung, liver, spleen, bone marrow, and vascular bed (7). On intravenous injection in rabbits, the material induces a pro- nounced leukopenia and a marked temperature rise (4). Because of these properties it was de- sired to determine, insofar as possible, whether the material might exhibit similar effects following intravenous injection into patients for the purpose of inducing therapeutic febrile reactions.