This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gabliks, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gabliks, J.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Infect Immun. 1972 September; 6(3): 364-369
Copyright © 1972 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Protective Action of 2,2-Bis(Parachlorophenyl)-1,1,1-Trichloroethane Against Intoxication of Cells by Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B

¹ Biology Department, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115

ABSTRACT

Chlorinated hydrocarbon 2,2-bis(parachlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (DDT) and its derivative 2,2-bis(parachlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethane (o,p'-DDD) protected the cells of human embryonic intestine, Henle strain, against the cytotoxic effects induced by staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). The hydrocarbons were incorporated in the culture medium, and the cytotoxicity of SEB was measured by cell destruction and by inhibition of cell growth during incubation for 48 hr. When DDT at nontoxic levels (4 to 25 µg/ml) was added to cultures, 24 or 4 hr prior to or 7 hr after the administration of toxin (100 µg/ml), the cells did not show the characteristic cytotoxicity. A therapeutic effect was also observed with o,p'-DDD added to cultures 9 hr after SEB. Because the cells treated with DDT for a period of 24 hr remained resistant to the toxin when DDT was removed from the cultures, it appears that DDT acts upon the cells rather then upon enterotoxin B. The protective effect of DDT was also observed against the toxin-induced skin erythemas and necrosis in guinea pigs treated with DDT.