Investigation of a hemolysin produced by enteropathogenic Treponema hyodysenteriae

A hemolysin produced by Treponema hyodysenteriae, the etiological agent of swine dysentery, was investigated. A virulent isolate (B204) was inoculated into a standard culture medium consisting of Trypticase soy broth without dextrose (BBL Microbiology Systems) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum in an atmosphere of 70:30 deoxygenated H2-CO2. Sterile cell-free filtrates were prepared at 2-h intervals and assayed for hemolytic activity by using washed sheep erythrocytes. The maximum hemolytic titer was obtained during the early log phase of growth (4 h). A loss of hemolytic activity was observed when cell-free filtrates were stored at 23 and 4 degrees C. Storage at -20 or -80 degrees C after lyophilization resulted in retention of the hemolytic titer for periods of up to 30 days. Enzymatic inactivation of the hemolysin was accomplished with pronase, but not with deoxyribonuclease, ribonuclease, lipase, or trypsin. Addition of exogenous ribonucleic acid-core to the standard culture medium resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the amount of hemolysin produced. The hemolysin could be purified by acid and ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by ion exchange and molecular sieve chromatography. The molecular weight of the hemolysin was 68,000 when determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis.