Stability of toxigenicity in proteolytic Clostridium botulinum type B upon serial passage

Abstract

Proteolytic Clostridium botulinum type B strains were investigated for stability of toxigenicity and bont/b gene upon serial passage. Strains with bont/b gene located on their plasmids showed loss or decrease of toxigenicity during serial passage. Some strains lost the bont/b gene-encoding plasmid. The stability of the plasmids varied between strains. © 2012 The Societies and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.