Abstract
theta-Toxin of Clostridium perfringens produced in a synthetic medium showed high toxicity. The mouse was killed with 5-10 hemolytic units of the toxin. Neutralization experiments showed that lethal and hemolytic activities were due to the same toxic entity. The amount of theta-toxin expressed in lethal activity reached more than 30% that of alpha-toxin in the synthetic medium SM67. Although the activities of alpha-and theta-toxins were not additive in terms of LD50, increase in the ratio of theta-toxin to alpha-toxin resulted in reduction of the survival time of the mouse injected with a lethal dosis of the mixture of the two toxins when compared with alpha-toxin alone. Unlike those produced in other media, the hemolytic and lethal activities of theta-toxin produced in the synthetic medium was not activated by reduction with thioglycollate, even after partial purification. In other respects, the toxin was not different significantly from those reported in the past. The toxic form was detected also in complex medium. It was suggested that theta-toxin may be produced as a nascent entity.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
