Positive Limulus amoebocyte lysate reactions with polyriboinosinic acid x polyribocytidylic acid

Abstract

The annealed copolymer polyriboinosinic acid x polyriboinosinic acid reacted with Limulus amoebocyte lysate to cause gelation at a concentration approximately 2,000-fold or greater than bacterial endotoxins. This copolymer was pyrogenic in rabbits and demonstrated hypochromicity, but no significant correlation was noted among Limulus amoebocyte lysate reactivity, progenicity, and hypochromicity. Like endotoxin, polyriboinosinic acid x polyribocytidylic acid did not react with purified Limulus coagulogen. Similar concentrations of the homopolymers polyriboinosinic acid and polyribocytidylic acid were negative or significantly below the Limulus amoebocyte lysate reactivity of the copolymear and essentially nonpyrogenic. Thus, polyriboinosinic acid x polyribocytidylic acid is a compound in addition to endotoxin that effects a positive Limulus amoebocyte lysate test.