Immunological Studies on Types of Diphtheria Bacilli

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Abstract
The subject of this communication would have been exhaustively investigated long ago if there had been practical evidence that a monovalent diphtheria antitoxin did not protect from diphtheria. It is true that in regard to B. tetani and B. botulinus laboratory investigations have given contradictory results as to the efficacy of a monovalent serum. These investigations have shown us: first, that tetanus bacilli, although they are divided into several types by their response to agglutinins, nevertheless, all produce toxins which are neutralized by a monovalent antitoxin; second, that the reverse is true of the bacilli causing botulism, in so far as the production of toxin is concerned. Among the strains of B. botulinus there are at least two different types producing toxins which respond only to homologous antitoxins. As to diphtheria bacilli, however, there are two series of observations which have been made concerning the degree of protection afforded by monovalent diphtheria antitoxin.

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