title: Antigenic relationships among the proteolytic and nonproteolytic strains of Clostridium botulinum.
abstract: Relationships of the somatic antigens among Clostridium botulinum strains have been investigated by tube agglutination and agglutinin absorption tests. Results revealed a relationship by which strains of C. botulinum are grouped by their proteolytic capacity rather than by the type of specific toxin produced. Thus, C. botulinum type E and its nontoxigenic variants, which are nonproteolytic, share common somatic antigens with the nonproteolytic strains of types B and F. Absorption of antiserum of a strain of any one type with antigen of any of the others removes the antibody to all three types. In the same manner, C. botulinum type A shares somatic antigens with the proteolytic strains of types B and F, and absorption of any one antiserum with an antigen of either of the other two types removes the antibody to all three types. Partial cross-agglutination of C. sporogenes, C. tetani, and C. histolyticum with the somatic antisera of the proteolytic group was also observed.
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003124:Colorimetry; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003470:Culture Media; D007106:Immune Sera; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D013045:Species Specificity; D013864:Thioglycolates; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000941:Antigens; D003470:Culture Media; D007106:Immune Sera; D013864:Thioglycolates; D014118:Toxins, Biological; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases