ROLE OF ALPHA-TOXIN IN LESION FORMATION BY STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ON SUTURES SUBCUTANEOUSLY IMPLANTED IN MICE

Taubler, James H. (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia), Frank A. Kapral, and Stuart Mudd. Role of alpha-toxin in lesion formation by Staphylococcus aureus on sutures subcutaneously implanted in mice. J. Bacteriol. 86:51–57. 1963.—Evidence was obtained that alpha-hemolysin is essential for the development of purulent lesions by several strains of Staphylococcus aureus adsorbed onto sutures subcutaneously implanted in mice. This evidence consisted of findings that active immunization with staphylococcal toxoid afforded significant protection to subcutaneous challenge with this organism and that alpha-hemolysin-negative mutants, derived from strains 18Z and P78, were almost devoid of the ability to produce lesions by this route of infection. However, other unknown factors also appear to be essential for lesion formation since passive immunization of mice with antialpha-toxin, obtained from rabbits immunized with purified toxin, failed to afford protection. A dose-response curve for this type of infection is also presented.