The recognition of material present in horse muscle affecting the formation of α-toxin by a strain of Clostridium welchii

Abstract

Protein-free horse muscle extract contains labile material which enhances a-toxin (lecithinase) formation by Cl. welchii type A (strain S107). It is dialyzable; stable in acid but unstable in alkaline soln.; not extracted from aqueous soln. at any pH by ether, CHCl3, benzene or n-butanol; not precipitated by neutral or basic lead acetate, or as a Ca or Ba salt; destroyed by Hg(Ac)2 in weakly alkaline and HgSO4 in acid soln., by nitrous acid and phosphotungstic acid precipitation; absorbed by activated charcoal from which it could be eluted by citrate or glycerophosphate at pH 9; not absorbed on alumina or benzoic acid. Inorganic iron conc. is important in its effect in [gamma]-toxin formation especially with highly purified prepns. of toxigenic factor.