Investigation of the Tetanus Toxin from Two Different Strains of Clostridium Tetani

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Abstract
Conclusion and Summary: The toxins produced by two different strains of Clostridium tetani, one sporulating and the other non-sporulating, appear to be identical in regard to molecular size, electrophoretic mobility, neutralization and flocculation tests. The principal difference appears in the amount of toxin and other macromolecular material synthesized by the Clostridium tetani under the conditions of growth used in this study. The non-sporulating Harvard strain produces a far greater yield of toxin and less other macromolecular material. However, the number of antigens produced by the two organisms appears to be qualitatively the same. Both toxins show an approximate diffusion coefficient of 5.5 × 10-7cm2/sec using an analytic method of measurement, and a sedimentation constant of 3.9 Svedberg units as determined in a Spinco analytic ultracentrifuge. These results together with a partial specific volume of 0.749 (calculated from amino acid analysis), point to an approximate molecular weight of 68,000.