[Toxigenesis of Clostridium onvyi type A. 1. Communication: production of alpha-toxin in vitro (author's transl)].

The production and excretion of alpha-toxin in vitro was studied with two pathogenetically different strains of Cl. novyi type A. During the exponential phase of growth nearly all alpha-toxin produced by strain 955 was concentrated within the cell, while only small amounts of toxin could be detected in the culture medium. On the contrary, alpha-toxin produced by strain Fö during the exponential phase of growth was found in equal parts (240 DLM/2 times 10(8) cells) within and outside the cell. During the stationary phase of growth 50 to 75% of the intracellular alpha-toxin was released into the culture fluid. The different rates of excretion of alpha-toxin may be the reason for the differing phenomena in gas gangrene of guinea pigs infected with Cl. novyi.