Isolation and characterization of Salmonella enterica Weltevreden cytotoxin

Cytotoxin of Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Weltevreden (BM-1643), isolated from buffalo meat, was purified and characterized physicochemically and immunologically. Cell-free culture supernatant (CFCS) of the organism showing marked cytotoxicity to Vero cells and least enterotoxicity to rabbit ligated ileal loop (RLIL) model, was salt precipitated with ammonium sulphate (60% saturation level) and dialysed. Precipitated dialysed preparation (60% PDP) when filtered through Sephadex G-100 column yielded two peaks, of which second peak (SG-100 SP) contained the cytotoxic activity. Upon filtration of SG-100 SP through SG-200 column, three peaks were obtained. Second peak (SG-200 SP), which was cytotoxic, yielded a single protein band of approximately 60-70 kDa in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and 3 protein bands of lower, molecular weight (13.5-56 kDa) in SDS-PAGE analysis. Cytotoxic preparation was maximally active at pH 7 to 8. On heating above 60 degrees C, cytotoxicity decreased gradually with insignificant activity left after treatment at 121 degrees C (15 min). Cytotoxin was inactivated by treatment with trypsin and protease but not by papain or lipase enzymes. It was immunogenic in rabbit and antiserum neutralized the cytotoxicity of cytotoxic preparations of homologous as well as heterologous Salmonella serovars.