title: Genomics of Clostridium botulinum group III strains.
abstract: In Clostridium botulinum, the characteristics of type C and D strains are quite different from other types, and they are classified as group III. They produce C2 binary toxin and C3 exoenzyme in addition to type C and D neurotoxins. Two different phages and many plasmids are identified in the organisms. The genes of neurotoxin and C3 exoenzyme are converted from toxigenic strains to non-toxigenic strains by the specific bacteriophages (phages), whereas, the C2 toxin gene is carried by large or small plasmids. Classification of type C and D strains has been in confusion because 1) antigenicity of type C and D neurotoxins is complex, 2) the cells produce two types of toxins, neurotoxin and C2 toxin, and 3) some non-toxigenic strains can be converted to produce C or D neurotoxin by the infection with phages. Until now, entire nucleotide sequences of cell chromosomes, phages, and plasmids have been determined. Since both genetic and protein-chemical analyses have been clarifying the above confusions, these data are reviewed historically.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Research Organization, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuenkibanadainishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan. Electronic address: ysakaguc@med.miyazaki-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Applied Biosciences, Department of Nutritional Science and Food Safety, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan. Electronic address: ts200588@nodai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-3-5 Shikata-cyo, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan. Electronic address: yumiya@md.okayama-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan. Electronic address: nishikaw@cc.tuat.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-3-5 Shikata-cyo, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; Hakodate Internal Medicine-Hospital, 24-5 Hanazono-cyo, Hakodate 041-0843, Japan. Electronic address: kuma@md.okayama-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oguma
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000235:genetics; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D023281:Genomics; D005838:Genotype; D010957:Plasmids; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational
chemical_list: C096325:botulinum toxin type D; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; C096324:botulinum toxin type C
keywords: C2 toxin; C3 exoenzyme; Clostridium botulinum group III; Neurotoxin; Phage conversion; Progenitor toxin