Immunofluorescent study of the spore antigens of proteolyticstrains ofClostridium botulinum

Abstract

SUMMARYBy means of the spore fluorescent antibody technique, 31 strains of Clostridium botulinum types A (18 strains), B (1 0 strains) and F (3 strains) were found to belong to the same homogeneous group irrespective of their toxigenic types. Some strains of this species also cross-reacted with certain strains of Clostridium sporogenes types I, II and III and Clostridium histolyticum type II. By spore antigenic analysis it was found that Clostridium parabotulinum contained two components designated L and M, the former describing species specificity; the latter was the cross-reacting component shared by some strains of Clostridium sporogenes and Clostridium histolyticum. Following this, a scheme showing the distribution of spore antigenic components among various species of Clostridium was given.