Stability and toxicity of Clostridium perfringens type D epsilon prototoxin treated by iodine [Estabilidade e toxicidade da protoxina epsilon de Clostridium perfringens tipo D]

Purified epsilon prototoxin of Clostridium perfringens type D was produced, purified, and detoxified by the stoiechiometric method of non-radioactive iodine incorporation. Different degrees of iodination were perfomed and the toxicity of the derivatives were analysed by in vivo studies. Toxicity decreased inversely to the iodine incorporation. Eletrophoretic analysis showed different levels of stability of samples kept under different temperatures 4oC, 20oC, and -80 oC. The iodinated prototoxins were stocked for a period of four months.