126 CHEMISTRY OF BACTERIA AND THEIR PRODUCTS 



of Iwanoff;^^ and many of the nucleoproteins, both of bacterial and non-bacterial 

 origin, cause considerable local inflammatory reaction when injected into animals. 

 Tiberti''' claims that vaccination with non-lethal doses of the nucleoproteins of 

 anthrax bacilli will protect animals against inoculations of virulent anthrax 

 bacilli. Some of the earlier observations on the toxicity of bacterial proteins 

 were erroneous because impure proteins, containing toxins, endo-toxins, and 

 ptomains were used. Schittenhelm and Wcichardt*^ have found, however, 

 that bacterial protein.s are much more toxic than any ordinaiy proteins, as indicated 

 by loss of nitrogen, temperature changes and alterations in the leucocytes of injected 

 animals. Furthermore, there are few other proteins that produce so much 

 inflammatory reaction as the bacterial proteins. 



\'aughan and his students have been able to split off from the bodies of various 

 pathogenic bacteria toxic materials which are stated to resemble in some respects 

 the protamins,''^ a though they do not all give a satisfactory biuret test. These 

 toxic materials are evidently quite different from either the true soluble toxins 

 or the endotoxins, since they resist heating for ten minutes, at 110"^ in the autoclave 

 with 1 per cent, sulphuric acid, this being a method used for securing the substance. 

 Since the sarcime and B. prodigionus also yield similar toxic products, t;hey cannot 

 be considered as the specific toxic substances of the pathogenic bacteria, but ap- 

 parently are common to all proteins of whatever origin. With .-ome bacteria the 

 splitting process with sulphuric acid sei)arates completely the toxic from the non- 

 toxic insoluble bacterial substance,"" e. </., B. coi communis: with others a to.xic 

 portion remains in-:oluble. The colon l)acillus protein gives all the protein reac- 

 tions, is synthesized on I'schinsky's medium, and does not yield a reducing carbo- 

 hydrate. From B. typhosus about 10 per cent, by weight of protein can he split 

 off b}'' dilute acid, of which at least a part seems to be a phosphorized glyco- 

 protein.*' Poisonous substances have also been obtained trom B. diphlherice, 

 B. anthracis, B. tuber cu'osis^^ and B. pyocyaneus. They produce death without 

 the usual latent period observed with toxins, and are very toxic, a few (10-20) 

 milligrams of colon bacillus poison killing guinea-pigs in less than ten minutes.*^ 

 A certain degree of immunity can be obtained against them.*'' Their relation to 

 endotoxins and anaphylatoxins has yet to be determined. 



Bacterial Pigments*'' 



The formation of pigment by bacteria seems to be, for the most 

 part an adventitious, unessential property. There are a few bacteria 

 which possess pigments of the nature of chlorophyll, or allied to it, 

 and this pigment is undoubtedly of great importance in the life pro- 

 cesses of these particular forms. Other varieties of pigment-forming 

 bacteria, of which but very few are pathogenic {Bacillus yyocijaneus, 

 B. proteus jiuorescens, S. pijogenes aureus and citreus, M. cercus 

 flavus), seem to produce pigment as a waste product which is excreted 

 from the cell as fast as formed. Generally the pigments are produced 

 in a colorless form (leuco-base) which is oxidized by the air into the 

 pigment, e. g., in pyocyaneus infections the soiled dressings are most 



" Hofmeister's Beitr., 1902 (1), 524. 



" Cent. f. Bakt., 1901) (10), 742. 



'« Miinch. med. Woch., 1911 (58), S41. 



'"A full review of tliis work is given in Xauglian's "Protein Split Products," 

 Philadelijliin, 19i:5; antl in .lour. Lab. Clin. IMed., 1911), Vols. 1 and 2. 



«" Wlieeler, Jour. Amer. Med., Assoc, 1905 (44), 1271. 



«' Ihid., 1901 (12), 1000. 



•2 Sec White and Averv, Jour. Med. Res., 1912 (20), 317. 



"' Jour. Amer. Med. .Vs.soc, 1905 (44), 1340; American Medicine, 1905 (10), 145. 



'* Vauglian (Jr.), Jour, of Med. I{esearch, 190') (14), ()7. 



"For coinplele bibliography and resume see Sullivan, .lour. Med. Research, 

 1905 (14), 109. 



