Premium
Lethal and Dermonecrotic Activities of Clostridium perfringens Iota Toxin: Biological Activities Induced by Cooperation of Two Nonlinked Components
Author(s) -
Sakurai Jun,
Kobayashi Keiko
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
microbiology and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1348-0421
pISSN - 0385-5600
DOI - 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1995.tb02197.x
Subject(s) - antiserum , toxin , intradermal injection , clostridium perfringens , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , component (thermodynamics) , guinea pig , median lethal dose , chemistry , immunology , antigen , toxicity , bacteria , endocrinology , physics , genetics , thermodynamics , organic chemistry
The effect of separate injections of two components of Clostridium perfringens iota toxin, designated I a and I b components, on the biological activities of the toxin was investigated. The intravenous injection of one component within 120 min after the injection of the other component killed mice. The activity of iota toxin was abolished by anti‐I a or anti‐I b antiserum. On the other hand, when I b component was intravenously administered to mice given anti‐I a antiserum within 120 min after the intravenous injection of I a component, the lethal activity was completely neutralized, but when I a component was injected into mice that were given anti‐I b antiserum over 5 min after the injection of I b component, the activity was not neutralized. The separate injections of I a and I b components in skin of guinea pigs indicated dermonecrosis at the injection site of I b components, but not at the site of I a components. Furthermore, when one component was intradermally injected in guinea pigs and then the other intraperitoneally, the dermonecrotic activity of the toxin was observed at the intradermal injection site of I b component, but not at that of I a component. From the data, it appears that the lethal and dermonecrotic activities of iota toxin are initiated by the binding of I b component to specific sites on tissues.