Toxin Production by 'Clostridium botulinum'Type A under Various Fermentation Conditions.

摘要

Since high yields of botulinum toxin are required for the preparation of purified neutoxoids, the time of appearance and the quantity of toxin produced by the Hall strain of Clostridium botulinium type A was examined under various conditions using a 70-liter fermenter. A complex medium cosisting of 2% casein hydrolysate, 1% yeast extract plus an appropriate concentration of glucose was employed. Optimum conditions for toxin production were: a nitrogen overlay at a rate of 5 liters/min, an agitation rate of 50 rpm, 35 C, and an initial glucose concentration of 1.0% with the pH uncontrolled. Under these conditions, the maximum toxin concentration (6.3 x 10 to the 5th power mouse median lethal doses/ml) was attained within 24 hr. Cell lysis was apparently not required to obtain maximum toxin concentrations in the culture fluid for cultures grown under the fermentation conditions described. (Author)