SELECTION OF A STRAIN OF CLOSTRIDIUM ARGENTINENSE PRODUCING HIGH TITERS OF TYPE-G BOTULINAL TOXIN

The strain G89HT of Clostridium argentinense obtained by culture selec tion of the prototype G89 strain producing high titers of type G botul inal toxin was studied. Its cultural, biochemical and toxigenic charac teristics and the presence of plasmids were tested. Both strains showe d similar physiological features and carried a 83 MDa plasmid. A 170 M Da plasmid was also recognized in the G89HT strain. Notably, this stra in was better sporulating and showed a higher toxigenicity than the pr ototype G89 C. argentinense strain. These two characteristics might pe rmit a long term storage and perhaps yield high antitoxin titres.