A. Turpin

On the structure of tetanus toxin

SummaryPrevious results from the literature pertaining to the molecular state of tetanus toxin are reported. By use of disc electrophoresis, gel filtration and ultracentrifugation, it is shown in this paper that tetanus toxin is likely to be constituted of subunits. Furthermore, it is postulated, starting from various lines of evidence, that the toxin should be recovered from the purification schedule as a dimer. The constituting monomeric units of the dimer are held together most probably by strong non-covalent interactions. Each monomer is proposed to consist again of two subunits of different sizes linked by one S-S bridge. The results which further this view are discussed together with the questions arising from this model.

Preparation and properties of one-zone flocculating antitetanus sera

Abstract The preparation of one-zone flocculating antitetanus sera in horses, using pure toxin, is described at the same time as are reported the main characteristics of such sera. The comparative study by quantitative precipitation of the one-zone flocculating sera with that of three complex standard sera is presented. The one-zone sera permit the obviation of ‘false’ flocculations and can serve to standardize crude and purified tetanus toxoid preparations. Alternatively, pure toxin can be used to standardize local complex standard sera.

TETANUS IMMUNIZATION WITH A FLUID PURE MONOMERIC TOXOID DMINISTERED BY INTRADERMAL ROUTE

ABSTRACT Tetanus toxin detoxification by formaldehyde induces polymerization to a variable extent. It was previously reported that a monomeric 7S-toxoid could be isolated from the composite toxoid. This 7S-toxoid exhibited a specific flocculating activity similar to that of the parent toxin. It was also found that after adsorption onto calcium phosphate it was more immunogenic in mice than the composite toxoid. In the present paper it was demonstrated that the 7S-toxoid is immunogenic in humans as a fluid vaccine administered by intradermal route. It is somewhat less efficient than adsorbed vaccines in primo-vaccination, but is quite comparable to them in booster injections. These results were shown to be statistically significant. Untoward reactions were rare and mild. The use of such a fluid vaccine is to be recommended in allergic patients, whose state might possibly be affected unfavourably by the combined injection of an adjuvant.