Improvement in the Growth and α-toxin Production of Clostridium septicum by Magnesium Sulfate

Abstract

Clostridium septicum, the anaerobic toxigenic bacterium is the agent that causes dangerous disease in man and animals. There is a lethal toxin of the bacterium namely alpha toxin. The ɑ-toxin has hemolytic, necrotic and lethal activities. Today, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute of Iran produced the C. septicum vaccine in the form of bacterin/toxoid. Because of some problems, the vaccine needs to improve on an industrial scale. The study is going to find an appropriate supplement to improve growth and ɑ-toxin production. Three strains of C. septicum (vaccine, NH1 and NH8 strains) were cultured in the basic vaccine media. Magnesium sulfate, Copper, Ferrous, yeast extract, and trace elements plus vitamins' solution were added to the basic vaccine media in different cultures. The effect of the ingredients on the growth was measured by a spectrophotometer and the α-toxin secretion was assayed by hemolysin test. Growth of the bacterium and α-toxin secretion were increased by Magnesium (80 mg/l) in NH8 and vaccine strains significantly. The black precipitate was difficult to dissolve in magnesium media that must be solved. Trace elements plus vitamins solution mildly influence on NH1strain growth and toxin secretion. Other supplements (Cu, Fe, yeast extract) were not showen any significant changes in the growth and α-toxin production of C. septicum. Overflowing peptone (4%) in the vaccine media, fixes essentials of proteolysis activity, allows the sufficient growth and toxin production without Cu, Fe, and yeast extract. Due to essentially of Mg for growth, extra magnesium was added for improvement of media culture. The study suggests for Magnesium addition in the C. septicum vaccine media during production procedure after precipitation solving problem.

Keywords

• clostridium septicum
• vaccine media
• alpha toxin
• growth
• magnesium