MECHANISM OF ACTION OF THE TOXIN OF BACILLUS ANTHRACIS II

Abstract

Slein, Milton W. (Fort Detrick, Frederick, Md.) and Gerald F. Logan, Jr . Mechanism of action of the toxin of Bacillus anthracis . II. Alkaline phosphatasemia produced by culture filtrates of various bacilli. J. Bacteriol. 83: 359–369. 1962.—A factor which produces hyperphosphatasemia after intravenous injection into animals has been found in culture filtrates of several bacilli. The factor appears not to be lecithinase, although it has been found only in culture filtrates of microorganisms, such as Bacillus cereus variants and B. thuringiensis , which are known to produce lecithinase. The factor has been shown to be different from the protective antigen fraction of the toxin of B. anthracis . The phosphatasemic response can be prevented by mixing the factor with antiserum before injection. Immunological tests indicate that the centers of ossification may be a principal source of the excess alkaline phosphatase which is liberated into the bloodstream. However, moderate changes in bone alkaline phosphatase activity levels, brought about by the development of scurvy in guinea pigs or by treatment of scorbutic guinea pigs with ascorbic acid, did not seem to affect the phosphatasemic response of the animals. Marked release of alkaline phosphatase occurs when slices of rabbit epiphyseal bone or kidney cortex, or suspensions of leukocytes, are incubated with small amounts of the phosphatasemia factor.