[Investigations on the characterization of a clostridial strain for tumour diagnosis (author's transl)].

Careful delineation of a clostrial strain for human tumour diagnosis as against oncolytic tissue-active clostridial strains should be obligatory. We investigated the possibility to differentiate Clostridium butyricum CNRZ 528 (Bergère) against three different strains kept in our institute by means of biological, biochemical and by phage typing procedures. In addition, consistency in the control of half-technological spore production is required. It could be confirmed by this study that oncolytic properties of clostridial strains are biologically testable with adequate sensitivity in the hamster A Mel 3 tumour model. By means of typing procedures, we were able to clearly differentiate between Clostridium butyricum CNRZ 528 on one hand and Clostridium oncolyticum M 55 as well as Clostridium butyricum Jena H 8 on the other. The results of the tests are unsuitable for identifying Clostridium butyricum CNRZ 528 or Clostridium butyricum McClung 1672 A, respectively, nor can we distinguish Clostridium oncolyticum M 55 from Clostridium butyricum Jena H 8.