Open AccessProduction and Release of Toxins A and B by Clostridium Difficile
Author(s) -
Julian M. Ketley,
S. C. Haslam,
Tim Mitchell,
J. Stephen,
D. C. A. Candy,
D. W. Burdon
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of medical microbiology/journal of medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.91
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1473-5644
pISSN - 0022-2615
DOI - 10.1099/00222615-18-3-385
Subject(s) - clostridium difficile , microbiology and biotechnology , microbial toxins , clostridiaceae , clostridiales , clostridium infections , clostridium , biology , toxin , clostridium difficile toxin b , enterotoxin , clostridium difficile toxin a , bacteria , antibiotics , escherichia coli , biochemistry , gene , genetics
The production and release of toxins A and B by Clostridium difficile during in-vitro culture was investigated. Cell-associated toxin A was detected by immunoelectrophoresis of bacterial extracts released by ultrasonication and by fluorescent antibody labelling of whole cells. Extracellular toxin A was detected by immunoelectrophoresis and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; extracellular toxin B was detected by cytotoxin assay. Both toxins A and B were produced and released during the decline phase of the bacterial growth cycle. The possible significance of these results in relation to the pathogenesis of pseudomembranous colitis is discussed.