Staphylococcus aureus strain 5761, isolated from a patient with toxic-shock syndrome, was used for the production of toxic-shock toxin. The medium used contained 4% bio-Trypcase and 1% yeast extract adjusted to pH 7. Production of 50
g of toxic-shock toxin/ml of culture supernatant was obtained. The purification method involves removal of the toxin from the culture supernatant with Biorex 70 resin and purification by isoelectric focusing, on 2% (pH 3–10) ampholine-sucrose gradients, and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100.
Three antigenically similar entities were isolated after electrofocusing, with a major component at isoionic point pH 7.4. The purified toxin migrated as a homogeneous protein with a molecular weight of 23,700 when tested by gel electrophoresis.
Specific antibodies to toxic-shock toxin in rabbits were obtained after one subcutaneous injection of 5
g enterotoxin.