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Abstract
Beta-toxin produced by Clostridium perfringens type C is an important agent of a necrotizing and inflammatory disease, necrotic enteritis, caused by the microorganism in the small intestine. The deduced amino acid sequence of beta-toxin has significant homology with that of Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin, gamma-toxin and leukocidin. Furthermore, beta-toxin forms a heptameric oligomer as a functional pore in rafts on HL60 cells. The toxin also forms the oligomer in artificial membranes. These findings provide that beta-toxin belongs to the same family as alpha-toxin which forms a functional oligomer in membranes. Beta-toxin is lethal to animals and dermonecrotic, but not hemolytic. The toxin directly or indirectly acts not only on the central nervous system but also on peripheral nerves.