The Effect of Staphylococcal Alpha Toxin and Preparations of Staphylococcal Antigens on Ciliated Respiratory Epithelium: A Study in Organ Cultures

Abstract

This investigation was supported by grants from Alfred österlund's Stiftelse, Malmö, Sweden, and the Medical Faculty, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden.

Tracheal and nasal explants of mucous membrane from adult rabbits and human foetuses were used for the study of ciliary toxicity of culture filtrate, crude extract and five preparations of purified antigens from S. aureus, phage type 52, Cowan I, Oeding ab (ck)m; and, secondly, of culture filtrate from S. aureus, Wood 46. The Wood 46 filtrate was the only product that proved toxic to the cilia. The Wood 46 filtrate contained alpha hemolysin. The ciliary toxicity of the filtrate was neutralised by anti-alpha hemolysin in amounts equivalent to the alpha hemolysin. The ciliary action of the explants stopped before any sign of damage to the cells could be demonstrated by conventional histological methods. Prolonged exposure to the toxin destroyed the epithelial layer.