title: Analysis of protection afforded by a Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxoid against heterologous clostridial phospholipases C.
abstract: The major virulence determinant in clostridial myonecrosis caused by Clostridium perfringens is a phospholipase C (PLC), the alpha-toxin. Previously, mice have been protected against challenge with heterologous alpha-toxin or Clostridium perfringens spores by immunisation with the C-domain (known as Cpa(247-370) or alpha-toxoid) of the alpha-toxin. In this study, we have determined the ability of the alpha-toxoid to protect against the lethal effects of a divergent C. perfringens alpha-toxin and against the PLCs of C. absonum or C. bifermentans, species which have been isolated from cases of clostridial myonecrosis. Protection against the C. perfringens alpha-toxin variant, the C. absonum alpha-toxin or the C. bifermentans PLC was elicited by immunisation with the alpha-toxoid in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UK. bnneeson@dstl.gov.uk
authors.forename: Brendan N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Neeson
authors.forename: Graeme C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Helen S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Atkins
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lingard
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Titball
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000276:immunology*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D002417:Cattle; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D046971:Paraclostridium bifermentans / Q000201:enzymology*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; C040649:alpha toxin, Clostridium perfringens