Clostridium perfringens vaccines.
Both Clostridium perfringens spores and toxins have reportedly been considered as a biological warfare agents. The spores may be incorporated into weapons which cause traumatic injury, and the resulting delivery of spores deep into tissues would result in the development of gas gangrene. Of the C. perfringens toxins, the epsilon-toxin is of particular concern and now appears on the list of CDC select agents. Currently there are no licensed vaccines suitable for use in humans which protect against either gas gangrene or epsilon-toxin. However, vaccines being developed for use in animals have the potential to be developed for use in humans.
Titball
Richard W
RW
School of Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter, Devon EX4 4QD, United Kingdom. R.W.Titball@exeter.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000276:immunology*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D001694:Biological Warfare / Q000517:prevention & control; D054045:Biological Warfare Agents; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000276:immunology*; D005738:Gas Gangrene / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D054045:Biological Warfare Agents; C039811:Clostridium perfringens epsilon-toxin