Protection of Animals Against CI. welchii (Type A) Toxin by Injection of Certain Purified Lipids.

Abstract

Purified total lipids obtained from erythrocytes, plasma, and liver have been found to have a protective effect against Clostridium welchii (type A) toxin in mice and dogs. The protective effect of the lipid prepns. appears to reside with the acetone-insoluble fraction, the fraction richest in lecithin. It is suggested that the protection may be due to a substrate partition effect in which the lecithinase of the C. welchii toxin hydrolyzes the relatively large added source of lecithin and in part spares the lecithin of animal cells from destruction.