Toxin and Antitoxin Reaction

Toxin and Antitoxin Reaction

Toxin and Antitoxin Reaction

When microorganisms gain an entry into the bodies of man and animals, they liberate toxin in the blood. The toxin a protein antigen stimulates the production of an antibody, called the antitoxin. An antitoxin combines specifically with a toxin and neutralizes if when a certain proportion of toxin and antitoxin are mixed in a test tube, a visible precipitate or flocculation occurs. The Ramon flocculation test is used for determining concentrations or strengths of either toxin or antitoxin.

In a series or test tubes varying amount of the antiserum (antitoxin) are mixed with a constant amount of toxin. The end point of titration is indicated by the mixture in the series that flocculates most rapidly. Neutralization, of toxin can also be determined by experiments with animals. Serum containing antitoxin is mixed with toxin in vitro and incubated for a few minutes. A small amount of the mixture is then injected into an experimental animal. Neutralization is indicated by the survival of the test animal.

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