Evidence for plasmid-mediated toxin and bacteriocin production in Clostridium botulinum type G

A single 81-megadalton plasmid was previously isolated from each of six toxigenic strains of Clostridium botulinum type G (M. S. Strom, M. W. Eklund, and F. T. Poysky, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 48:956-963, 1984). In this study, nontoxigenic derivatives isolated from each of the toxigenic strains following consecutive daily transfers in Trypticase (BBL Microbiology Systems, Cockeysville, Md.)-yeast extract-glucose broth at 44 degrees C simultaneously ceased to produce type G neurotoxin and to harbor the resident 81-megadalton plasmid. The nontoxigenic derivatives also ceased to produce bacteriocin and lost their immunity to the bacteriocin produced by the toxigenic strains. In contrast, all of the toxigenic isolates continued to carry the resident plasmid and to produce both bacteriocin and type G neurotoxin. This is the first evidence suggesting that the production of neurotoxin and bacteriocin by C. botulinum is mediated by a plasmid.