Purification and characterization of the lethal toxin (alpha-toxin) of Clostridium septicum

87Citations
Citations of this article
46Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

Clostridium septicum lethal (alpha-toxin) was purified and found to be a basic protein (pI 8.4) of approximately 48 kDa that is both lethal and hemolytic. The alpha-toxin had a hemolytic activity of approximately 2 x 107 hemolytic units per mg and a 50% lethal dose of approximately 10 μg/kg of body weight for mice. The alpha-toxin formed concentration-dependent, sodium dodecyl sulfate-resistant aggregates of approximately 230 kDa. Mice immunized with alpha-toxin showed a significant increase in survival time over mock- immunized mice when challenged with C. septicum. Rabbit polyclonal antibody was generated against the purified toxin and was used to confirm that toxin with the same molecular weight was present in seven different C. septicum isolates. No proteins in the supernatants from cultures of Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium histolyticum, Clostridium chauvoei, or Clostridium difficile were found to react with the C. septicum alpha-toxin-specific antibody.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Ballard, J., Bryant, A., Stevens, D., & Tweten, R. K. (1992). Purification and characterization of the lethal toxin (alpha-toxin) of Clostridium septicum. Infection and Immunity, 60(3), 784–790. https://doi.org/10.1128/iai.60.3.784-790.1992

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free