| Abstract: | Interrelations between the common and specific components in the toxins of several strains of Cl. septicum and Cl. histolyticum were investigated. The method of tissue culture, which yields more stable results than biological tests on animals, was used. It has been demonstrated that native toxins of Cl. seticum (7 strains) and Cl. histolyticum (7 strains) cause cytotoxic changes in chick embryo fibroblasts. These changes are similar to each other and identical with changes occurring under the effect of concentrated toxins of the mentioned microorganisms. Cross reactions of neutralization with antitoxic and species-specific sera against Cl. septicum and Cl. histolyticum have shown that the strains of Cl. septicum and Cl. histolyticum synthesize toxins with components possessing common antigenic properties. The strains of Cl. histolyticum synthesize a greater amount of components common with Cl. septicum than the strains of Cl. septicum in which the amount of heterologous antigens varies. |
