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Endotoxic substance of cryptococcus neoformans

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Abstract

In this study an endotoxic substance was extracted from the cells ofCryptococcus neoformans and the physicochemical and biological properties of this substance (Cr-ET) were investigated. In comparison with endotoxin of gram-negative bacteria, the lethality of Cr-ET for mice and chick embryos was low and such biological activities were weak as the pyrogenic effect on rabbits and effects on the leucocyte count and blood sugar level in rabbits. Skin reactions (both primary and Shwartzman reactions) were elicited in rabbits by relatively large dose of Cr-ET. Unlike bacterial endotoxin, hyperreactivity to Cr-ET was not induced in mice by prior infection with BCG.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bacteriology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumaicho, Showa-ku, 466, Nagoya, Japan

    Takashi Kobayashi, Izumi Nakashima & Nobuo Kato

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  1. Takashi Kobayashi
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  2. Izumi Nakashima
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  3. Nobuo Kato
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Kobayashi, T., Nakashima, I. & Kato, N. Endotoxic substance of cryptococcus neoformans. Mycopathologia et Mycologia Applicata 54, 391–404 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02050176

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