Antigenic characterization of urea-extractable crude burn toxin.

Crude burn toxin was obtained from human skin scalded for 1 min at 90 degrees C in vitro. The toxin solubilized with 8 M urea was administered to rabbits to obtain antiserum. The antigenic analysis carried out by immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis demonstrated that urea-extractable toxin solution differed from its analogue obtained from untreated skin in antigenic properties and presence of high-molecular weight protein fractions. Presence of a tissue antigen of low grade electrophoretic mobility in the preparation of burn toxin was shown. This antigen was present, probably also in small amounts in the preparation of native skin which was analogous to the tested skin.