Analysis of protection afforded by a Clostridium perfringens α-toxoid against heterologous clostridial phospholipases C

The major virulence determinant in clostridial myonecrosis caused by Clostridium perfringens is a phospholipase C (PLC), the a-toxin. Previously, mice have been protected against challenge with heterologous a-toxin or Clostridium perfringens spores by immunisation with the C-domain (known as Cpa(247-370) or alpha-toxoid) of the a-toxin. In this study, we have determined the ability of the a-toxoid to protect against the lethal effects of a divergent C. perfringens a-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 g-toxin variant, the C absonum a-toxin or the C. bifermentans PLC was elicited by immunisation with the alpha-toxoid in vivo. Crown Copyright (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.