Identification of the toxic component of Brucella abortus endotoxin and its labeling with radioactive chromate.

The evidence obtained from immuno-gel diffusion, centrifugation, and toxicity studies employing the serum iron assay proved that most of the toxicity in an ether-water brucella endotoxin preparation lies in the slow-diffusing component identified as the biologically active endotoxin. Subsequent destruction of the slow-diffusing component by acid hydrolysis resulted in a corresponding loss of toxicity. Chromate-51 was found to attach almost entirely on the slow-diffusing biologically active component and, hence, is a valid label for endotoxin derived from smooth Brucella abortus by the ether-water method.