Multivalent binding of toxin A from Clostridium difficile to carbohydrate receptors

A specific monoclonal antibody against toxin A from Clostridium difficile was generated that did not show thermolabile binding. Nonspecific murine monoclonal antibodies bound toxin A at 4 degrees C, but less effectively at 37 degrees C. Nonspecific human monoclonal antibodies did not bind to toxin A at 4 degrees C. Cytotoxic properties of purified toxin A were not inhibited by Bandeiraea simplicifolia lectin. This points to a carbohydrate moiety on the cell surface and a multivalent nonspecific carbohydrate binding ligand on toxin A.