A comparative study of the bactericidal activity of horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) hemolymph and vertebrate serum |
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Authors: | R Johannsen RS Anderson RA Good NK Day |
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Institution: | 1. The Pediatric and Pathology Laboratories of the University of Minnesota Hospitals, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA;2. the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York 10021 USA |
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Abstract: | This paper describes a partially heat-labile, naturally occurring bactericidal factor in cell-free hemolymph preparations obtained from Limulus polyphemus. This bactericidal activity has been shown to be directed against two Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, whereas it had no effect on the Gram-positive bacteria tested, Micrococcus lysodeikticus and Staphylococcus aureus. Maximal bactericidal activity of this factor was observed at 30°C and pH 6.0. Since complement and antibody are required for antimicrobial activity in vertebrate sera, the activity of this factor in the presence of various complement inhibitors was assayed. The bactericidal activity of Limulus hemolymph is abolished by treatment with endotoxin; however, other anticomplementary substances were without effect. Limulus amebocyte lysate is known to contain protein which may be precipitated by endotoxin; it is possible that the reduction of bactericidal activity produced by endotoxin treatment may be caused by the denaturation of a bactericidal protein moiety produced by the hemocytes. |
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Keywords: | Reprints may be obtained from R S Anderson Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research Walker Laboratory 145 Boston Post Road Rye New York 10580 |
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