STUDIES ON THE FLEXNER GROUP OF DYSENTERY BACILLI : VI. THE DETOXIFICATION OF SHIGELLA PARADYSENTERIAE BY MEANS OF PERIODIC ACID.

A method for detoxifying Type Z and sp. Newcastle Sh. paradysenteriae (Flexner) has been described. This procedure involves exposing the bacilli at pH 5.0 to 0.01 M periodic acid. Microorganisms treated with this reagent for an appropriate time interval lose approximately 90 per cent of their toxicity, yet they are capable of eliciting in experimental animals antibodies effective against the unaltered organisms.