A rapid and safe procedure for preparing the murine toxins of the plague bacillus (Yersinia pestis).
The murine toxins A and B of Y. pestis were purified from a crude extract of the nonencapsulated strain M23NP of Y. pestis using HPLC gel filtration. Toxins A and B had molecular weights of 240,000 and 120,000, respectively. Both toxins had isoelectric points of 3.8. The mouse LD50 of toxin A was 2.5 micrograms, that of toxin B was 1.8 micrograms. Of the protein injected on the column, approximately 9% was toxin, including 2.9% toxin A and 6.1% toxin B. The crude M23NP extract was used periodically over 10 months to purify lots of the toxins. Each HPLC purification required about 30 min.
Department of Hazardous Microorganisms, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC 20307-5100.
M C
MC
Seguin
D N
DN
Harrison
J E
JE
Williams
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000633:toxicity; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D010930:Plague / Q000175:diagnosis; D015010:Yersinia pestis
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001427:Bacterial Toxins