Abstract
We have begun a genetic analysis of the toxins of Clostridium perfringens. A gene bank of C. perfringens type A strain CN1914 was constructed in Escherichia coli using the bacteriophage replacement vector lambda L47.1. One hybrid phage, lambda WBL1, expressing a haemolysin was selected for further study. A 4.2 kb EcoRI fragment from lambda WBL1 was subcloned into the plasmid vector pACYC184 to give pCP100. Mutagenesis using the transposon Tn5 located the haemolysin gene to a 2.1 kb HindIII-EcoRI fragment, and this fragment was subcloned into the plasmid vector pUC8. The resultant plasmid, pCP101, expressed a protein of 49 000 daltons which cross-reacted immunologically with the streptolysin 0 of Streptococcus pyogenes. These results suggest that the gene encodes the theta toxin of C. perfringens although further work is required to confirm this.
The use of genetics as a tool to study the toxins of C. perfringens in greater detail is discussed. Genetics may allow a greater understanding of the mechanisms controlling expression of genes in the Clostridia and may enable greater exploitation of this genera in industrial and medical fields.
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© 1987 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht
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Fairweather, N.F., Pickard, D.J., Morrissey, P.M., Lyness, V.A., Dougan, G. (1987). Genetic Analysis of Toxin Determinants of Clostridium Perfringens . In: Borriello, S.P., Hardie, J.M., Drasar, B.S., Duerden, B.I., Hudson, M.J., Lysons, R.J. (eds) Recent Advances in Anaerobic Bacteriology. New Perspectives in Clinical Microbiology, vol 12. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3293-7_13
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3293-7_13
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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