VIABILITY AND REDUCTION OF THE COST OF ST APHYLOCOCCAL-ENTEROTOXIN-A PURIFICATION FOR OSP METHODS

Purification of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) intended for use as reference toxin in Optimum Sensitivity Plate -OSP is described. Staph ylococcus aureus 722 was inoculated in 3,0% tryptone plus 1,0% yeast e xtract medium, and submitted to the shake flasks or sac culture proced ure. SEA produced in the supernatant was captured through adsortion wi th Amberlite CG-50 and after elution, concentrated by dialysis against polyethileneglycol 15000 to 20000. The recovery of 56mg (37%) and 15m g (11%) respectively from resin treated sac culture and shake flask su pernatant suggested that in the second method, other metabolites from staphylococcal growth competed with SEA and caused undesirable resin s aturation. The SEA at this level of purity was adequate for OSP purpos e, with advantage in reducing costs and making it available at routine laboratory of national condition.