Production and purification of Clostridium botulinum type C and D neurotoxin

Abstract

Neurotoxins of Clostridium botulinum are needed in basic neurologic research, but as therapeutic agent for certain neuromuscular disorders like strabism as well. A method for the production and purification of botulinum neurotoxins C and D is reported using a two-step hollow-fiber cross flow filtration and a newly developed chromatographic purification procedure. Hollow-fiber filtration proved to be a rapid and safe concentration and pre-purification step, which can easily be scaled up. The chromatographic purification included hydrophobic interaction, anion exchange and size exclusion chromatography runs. Botulinum neurotoxins C and D could be recovered with an overall yield of 12.6% and 10.6%, respectively. A specific toxicity of 1.86 x 10(7) minimal lethal dose mg(-1) (type C) and 5.26 x 10(7) minimal lethal dose mg(-1) (type D) was determined in the mouse bioassay.