Tetanus toxin and antigenic derivatives. II. Effect of protein and formaldehyde concentration on toxoid formation.

Tetanus toxoid formation was examined under varying conditions. Products of the reaction depended upon the concentration of both formaldehyde and toxin. High concentrations of protein and formaldehyde favored the formation of large polymers, whereas low concentrations yielded smaller polymers and monomer. The monomer had an observed S value of 7.1, whereas the polymers ranged from 10.1S to 110S. The cross-linking between toxin molecules to form toxoid polymers appeared to be random.