Comparison of two toxins produced by Clostridium difficile

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Abstract
C. difficile was shown to produce a toxin which could be biochemically separated from the previously described cytotoxin of the same organism. The 2 proteins differ in biological activity and physical properties. Antiserum prepared to the 2nd toxin does not neutralize the biological activity of the cytotoxin; immunological cross-reactivity could not be demonstrated. However, some relationship may exist between the 2 toxins, since the newly described toxin degrades on polyacrylamide electrophoresis into 2 molecules, one of which appears to migrate with the band of purified cytotoxin. This newly described toxin will be designated toxin A until its primary biological activity and physical relationship to cytotoxin is determined. This toxin is active in biological assays of enteric disease (in humans) and may play an important role in C. difficile-induced colitis.