Isolation and some properties of beta-hemolysin produced by Nocardia asteroides.
An intracellular beta-hemolysin capable of lysing human, sheep and cow erythrocytes but not cells from some other animals was isolated from the cell walls of the three developmental cell-forms of Nocardia asteroides and characterised. The spherical cell-forms contained the highest amounts of the hemolysin (100 h.u./mg protein) and the least LD50 for mice suggesting that this may be the cell-form most pathogenic to susceptible animals. The hemolysin has the properties of a protein, was pH stable and sensitive to both catabolite repression and temperature. The activity of the hemolysin was enhanced by Ca++ and Na+ ions. The hemolysin was immunogenic in rabbits.
D000818:Animals; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000032:analysis; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D051379:Mice; D009616:Nocardia asteroides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature
D006460:Hemolysin Proteins