High and low toxin production by a non-toxigenic strain of Clostridium botulinum type C following infection with type C phages of different passage history.
Toxin production in Clostridium botulinum types C and D is governed by specific bacteriophages. Prior passages of a phage controlling type C toxin production caused subsequently lysogenized bacteria to become variably toxigenic. This appears to be one of the causes of the decrease in toxigenicity which is common in some type C and D strains. The morphology of bacteria was also changed from rod-shaped to filamentous by infection with a successively propagated phage.
D001435:Bacteriophages; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D001905:Botulinum Toxins