Cytolysins

Cytolysins (from Greek kytes-cell and lysis-dissolution), serum antibodies that dissolve corresponding cells with the help of alexin (see). Cytolysins include: hemolysins, leukolysins and bacteriolysins. However, in hemolysis the effect is reduced only to the rupture of red blood cells and diffusion of Hb into the surrounding environment, while the stroma remains undissolved, and in bacteriolysis only the least resistant microbes, such as the cholera vibrio, undergo true lysis. A distinction is made between cytolysins of immune sera, which are obtained as a result of parenteral introduction of corresponding cellular elements into the organism, and normal ones, i.e., those already present in normal, non-immunized animals. For iso- and auto-cytolysins, see Cytotoxins (there also references).