Skip to main content
PMC home page
Infection and Immunity logoLink to Infection and Immunity
. 1971 Dec;4(6):703–708. doi: 10.1128/iai.4.6.703-708.1971

Cytotoxicity of Rabbit Blood for Listeria monocytogenes

Leonard D Shultz 1, M S Wilder 1
PMCID: PMC416377  PMID: 5005312

Abstract

Our studies reveal that normal rabbit blood contains a potent bactericidin active against Listeria monocytogenes. The factor is present in greatest amounts in fresh undiluted serum but is absent in platelet extracts. A correlation was observed between the virulence of Listeria strains and their relative ability to survive in serum. The bactericidal titers obtained for plasma and plasma serum indicate that clotting must occur for optimum expression of antilisterial activity. The lethal action is not elevated after immunization with viable Listeria nor does it appear to depend on heat-labile components of complement. The active factor was removed from serum by filtration through a cellulose asbestos filter pad and further purified by carboxymethyl cellulose chromatography. Iron significantly diminishes serum lethality and completely abolishes the action of the purified component. The listericidal factor resembles β-lysin but may be a distinct part of a multiple system of similar bactericidins.

Full text

PDF
703

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. AVANIAN L. A., GUBINA N. E. [Effect of iron on the growth of virulent plague microbes]. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol. 1961 Mar;32:92–97. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BURROWS T. W., JACKSON S. The virulence-enhancing effect of iron on nonpigmented mutants of virulent strains of Pasteurella pestis. Br J Exp Pathol. 1956 Dec;37(6):577–583. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. DONALDSON D. M., ELLSWORTH B., MATHESON A. SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION OF BETA-LYSIN FROM NORMAL SERUM. J Immunol. 1964 Jun;92:896–901. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. DONALDSON D. M., JENSEN R. S., JENSEN B. M., MATHESON A. SEROLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS AMONG BETA-LYSIN, PLAKIN, AND LEUKIN. J Bacteriol. 1964 Oct;88:1049–1055. doi: 10.1128/jb.88.4.1049-1055.1964. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. DONALDSON D. M., MARCUS S. Studies on serum bactericidal activity; interrelationships of heparin, citrate, protamine and xirradiation on serum and plasma bactericidal activity against Bacillus subtilis. J Immunol. 1958 Oct;81(4):292–296. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Gray M. L., Killinger A. H. Listeria monocytogenes and listeric infections. Bacteriol Rev. 1966 Jun;30(2):309–382. doi: 10.1128/br.30.2.309-382.1966. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. HASENCLEVER H. F., KARAKAWA W. W. Immunization of mice against Listeria monocytogenes. J Bacteriol. 1957 Nov;74(5):584–586. doi: 10.1128/jb.74.5.584-586.1957. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. HIRSCH J. G. Comparative bactericidal activities of blood serum and plasma serum. J Exp Med. 1960 Jul 1;112:15–22. doi: 10.1084/jem.112.1.15. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Johnson F. B., Donaldson D. M. Purification of staphylocidal beta-lysin from rabbit serum. J Bacteriol. 1968 Sep;96(3):589–595. doi: 10.1128/jb.96.3.589-595.1968. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. KAUTTER D. A., SILVERMAN S. J., ROESSLER W. G., DRAWDY J. F. Virulence of Listeria monocytogenes for experimental animals. J Infect Dis. 1963 Mar-Apr;112:167–180. doi: 10.1093/infdis/112.2.167. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Kochan I. Mecahnism of tuberculostasis in mammalian serum. I. Role of transferrin in human serum tuberculostasis. J Infect Dis. 1969 Jan;119(1):11–18. doi: 10.1093/infdis/119.1.11. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. LOWRY O. H., ROSEBROUGH N. J., FARR A. L., RANDALL R. J. Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem. 1951 Nov;193(1):265–275. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. MACKANESS G. B. Cellular resistance to infection. J Exp Med. 1962 Sep 1;116:381–406. doi: 10.1084/jem.116.3.381. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. MYRVIK Q. N., WEISER R. S. Studies on antibacterial factors in mammalian tissues and fluids. I. A serum bactericidin for Bacillus subtilis. J Immunol. 1955 Jan;74(1):9–16. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. SILVERMAN S. J., ELWELL L. P., DRAWDY J. F. INFLUENCE OF ROUTE OF INFECTION AND OTHER FACTORS ON GROWTH AND DISTRIBUTION OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES IN ORGANS OF MICE. J Bacteriol. 1963 Sep;86:355–362. doi: 10.1128/jb.86.3.355-362.1963. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Sword C. P. Mechanisms of pathogenesis in Listeria monocytogenes infection. I. Influence of iron. J Bacteriol. 1966 Sep;92(3):536–542. doi: 10.1128/jb.92.3.536-542.1966. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Williams H. L., Conrad M. E. A one-tube method for measuring the serum iron concentration and unsaturated iron-binding capacity. J Lab Clin Med. 1966 Jan;67(1):171–176. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Infection and Immunity are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES