EXPRESSION AND PURIFICATION OF CLOSTRIDIUM-PERFRINGENS BETA-TOXIN GLUTATHIONE-S-TRANSFERASE FUSION PROTEIN

The beta-toxin gene from Clostridium perfringens type C was cloned and expressed as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein in Escherichi a coli. The DNA sequence was determined and compared to the type B seq uence. Two nucleotide differences were found in the protein coding seq uence, resulting in one amino acid difference between the two proteins . The purified beta-toxin fusion protein is not toxic in mice, but rab bit antiserum raised against it neutralises the toxic effect of C. per fringens type C culture filtrate in mice.