Abstract
Purified .beta.-toxin from C. perfringens type C was a single polypeptide chain protein with a MW of approximately 30,000. The toxin was heat labile, with 75% of its activity being inactivated by incubation at 50.degree. C for 5 min. Biological activity of the purified toxin was completely destroyed on exposure to trypsin for 30 min at 37.degree. C. The 50% lethal dose for mice was 1.87 .mu.g of purified toxin.