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Gene Cloning and Organization of the Alpha-Toxin of Clostridium perfringens

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Genetics and Molecular Biology of Anaerobic Bacteria

Part of the book series: Brock/Springer Series in Contemporary Bioscience ((BROCK/SPRINGER))

Abstract

Clostridium perfringens is widely distributed in the environment. In the soil, the bacterium is well adapted to survival by producing an array of hydrolytic enzymes capable of breaking down organic materials to yield essential nutrients (McDonel, 1986). It is not clear why many of these enzymes are also potent toxins. At least 12 toxic proteins have been shown to be produced by C. perfringens (McDonel, 1986), but most are considered minor toxins of questionable significance in the pathogenesis of disease.

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Authors
  1. Richard W. Titball
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  2. Helen Yeoman
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  3. Sophie E. C. Hunter
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Unité des Anaérobies, Institut Pasteur, 75724, Paris, France

    Madaleine Sebald

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Titball, R.W., Yeoman, H., Hunter, S.E.C. (1993). Gene Cloning and Organization of the Alpha-Toxin of Clostridium perfringens . In: Sebald, M. (eds) Genetics and Molecular Biology of Anaerobic Bacteria. Brock/Springer Series in Contemporary Bioscience. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7087-5_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7087-5_14

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