4
D. E. MAHONY
ing of large numbers of C. perfringens strains for bacteriocins was carried
out by Sasarman and Antohi (1963). From 24 strains tested against one
another, four bacteriocin-producing strains were identified : strain 1241
(toxin type E), 2077 (type F) and P24 and 353 (non-typed strains). Undoubtedly more bacteriocins would have been detected in supernatant
fluids of cultures had these investigators not heated the supernatant fluid
at 70°C for 1 h before spotting on to the plates. Using these bacteriocins,
237 strains of C. perfringens were tested for susceptibility. Sasarman and
Antohi concluded that 81.4% of their strains were typable and 12 different
typing patterns were obtained. Sixty-seven per cent of the strains fell
within the first five types while the remaining seven types represented small
numbers of strains. There was no apparent association between either the
production of, or susceptibility to, bacteriocins and the classical toxin
typing of these organisms.
This latter fact was also confirmed by TJchiyama (1966a) when 74 strains
of C. perfringens were divided into four groups based upon their ability
to produce bacteriocins. Twelve bacteriocin-producing strains were
detected. In testing 14 strains of toxin types B, C, D, E and F, there was
no type specificity in the action of bacteriocin. Only C. perfringens was
sensitive to these bacteriocins during a survey of a number of Grampositive and Gram-negative organisms. Also Tubylewicz (1966a) reported
that 5 of 35 strains of C. perfringens Type A were bacteriocinogenic. A
further study by Sasarman and Antohi (1968) showed that of 251 strains of
C. perfringens examined, 12 elaborated bacteriocins (no heat treatment of
the supernatant fluids). Hirano et al. (1972) showed that 14 of 176 strains
produced bacteriocin while Mahony and Butler (1971) detected four
bacteriocinogenic strains amongst 33 tested. I n 1974, Mahony used ten
bacteriocins to type 274 cultures of C. perfringens and observed 50 different
bacteriocin typing patterns. Currently, 65 typing patterns have been
observed (Mahony and Swantee, 1978).
The naming of bacteriocins of C. perfringens is still unresolved. Some
authors call such bacteriocins “perfringocins”, while others have chosen
the term “welchicins”.
2. Production and detection of bacteriocins
The methods used to produce and detect bacteriocins of C. perfringens
are similar to those employed for bacteriocins of other bacteria with the
exception that growth of the organisms is carried out under anaerobic
conditions.
Spontaneous production of bacteriocins has been reported by Uchiyama
(1966a), Sasarman and Antohi (1968), Mahony and Butler (1971), and
Hirano and Imamura (1971). Tubylewicz (1966a) used ultraviolet light
D. E. MAHONY
ing of large numbers of C. perfringens strains for bacteriocins was carried
out by Sasarman and Antohi (1963). From 24 strains tested against one
another, four bacteriocin-producing strains were identified : strain 1241
(toxin type E), 2077 (type F) and P24 and 353 (non-typed strains). Undoubtedly more bacteriocins would have been detected in supernatant
fluids of cultures had these investigators not heated the supernatant fluid
at 70°C for 1 h before spotting on to the plates. Using these bacteriocins,
237 strains of C. perfringens were tested for susceptibility. Sasarman and
Antohi concluded that 81.4% of their strains were typable and 12 different
typing patterns were obtained. Sixty-seven per cent of the strains fell
within the first five types while the remaining seven types represented small
numbers of strains. There was no apparent association between either the
production of, or susceptibility to, bacteriocins and the classical toxin
typing of these organisms.
This latter fact was also confirmed by TJchiyama (1966a) when 74 strains
of C. perfringens were divided into four groups based upon their ability
to produce bacteriocins. Twelve bacteriocin-producing strains were
detected. In testing 14 strains of toxin types B, C, D, E and F, there was
no type specificity in the action of bacteriocin. Only C. perfringens was
sensitive to these bacteriocins during a survey of a number of Grampositive and Gram-negative organisms. Also Tubylewicz (1966a) reported
that 5 of 35 strains of C. perfringens Type A were bacteriocinogenic. A
further study by Sasarman and Antohi (1968) showed that of 251 strains of
C. perfringens examined, 12 elaborated bacteriocins (no heat treatment of
the supernatant fluids). Hirano et al. (1972) showed that 14 of 176 strains
produced bacteriocin while Mahony and Butler (1971) detected four
bacteriocinogenic strains amongst 33 tested. I n 1974, Mahony used ten
bacteriocins to type 274 cultures of C. perfringens and observed 50 different
bacteriocin typing patterns. Currently, 65 typing patterns have been
observed (Mahony and Swantee, 1978).
The naming of bacteriocins of C. perfringens is still unresolved. Some
authors call such bacteriocins “perfringocins”, while others have chosen
the term “welchicins”.
2. Production and detection of bacteriocins
The methods used to produce and detect bacteriocins of C. perfringens
are similar to those employed for bacteriocins of other bacteria with the
exception that growth of the organisms is carried out under anaerobic
conditions.
Spontaneous production of bacteriocins has been reported by Uchiyama
(1966a), Sasarman and Antohi (1968), Mahony and Butler (1971), and
Hirano and Imamura (1971). Tubylewicz (1966a) used ultraviolet light