The Production of Staphylococcus Enterotoxin and Alpha Hemolysin in a Simplified Medium

Abstract

A simple medium and technic for the production of staphylococcus enterotoxin are given, formulated along the lines of Mueller''s work with diphtheria toxin. With certain reservations the quantitative a hemol-ysin determination has afforded a ready means of follow-ing the enterotoxin production through the various steps in the formulation of the medium. The final criterion for enterotoxin production, however, is the induction of vomit-ing by the intraven. administration of the toxin in cats. The medium consists of casein hydrolysate from which most of the iron has been removed. In addition vitamin B1, nicotinic acid, glucose and phenol red are added. The cultures are incubated under increased CO2 tension in a slowly rotating container. The a hemolysin and enterotoxin production equals that obtained with the same strains of organisms grown on the conventional semi-solid infusion broth agar medium in the presence of CO2.