Abstract
A PUZZLING feature of studies on the basis of pathogenicity of Pasteurella pestis is the relationship of the behaviour of the so-called toxin1–4 in guinea pigs to infection in the same host. This toxin is lethal for mice but not for guinea pigs4,5, although the two hosts are equally susceptible to plague1,6. This anomaly led us to consider whether, in plague, guinea pigs are killed by a toxin different from that killing mice, or whether the ‘toxin’ as previously isolated is a degraded form of a native toxin that kills both species. The results described below support the latter view and give a reasonable explanation for the death of guinea pigs from plague.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Jawetz, E., and Meyer, K. F., J. Inf. Dis., 73, 124 (1943).
Englesberg, E., and Levy, J. B., J. Bact., 68, 57 (1954).
Ajl, S. J., Reedal, J. S., Durrum, E. L., and Warren, J., J. Bact., 70, 158 (1955).
Schar, M., and Meyer, K. F., Schweiz. Z. Path., 19, 51 (1956).
Schar, M., and Thal, E., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. N.Y., 88, 39 (1955).
Pollitzer, R., “Plague” (World Health Organization, Geneva, 1954).
Smith, H., Keppie, J., and Stanley, J. L., Brit. J. Exp. Path., 36, 460 (1955).
Baker, E. E., Sommer, H., Foster, L. E., Meyer, E., and Meyer, K. F., J. Immunol., 68, 131 (1952).
Smith, H., Keppie, J., and Stanley, J. L., Brit. J. Exp. Path., 34, 33 (1953).
van Heyningen, W. E., “Bacterial Toxins” (Blackwell, Oxford, 1950).
Higuchi, K., and Carlin, C. E., J. Bact., 73, 122 (1957).
Davies, D. A. L., Biochem. J., 63, 105 (1956).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
KEPPIE, J., SMITH, H. & COCKING, E. Lethality for Guinea Pigs of Ultrasonic Extracts of Pasteurella pestis: its Relationship to Death of Guinea Pigs from Plague. Nature 180, 1136 (1957). https://doi.org/10.1038/1801136a0
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1801136a0
