The effects of Clostridium difficile toxins A and B on membrane integrity and protein synthesis in intestinal cells in vivo and in vitro and in McCoy cells in vitro.

Clostridium difficile toxins A and B inhibited protein synthesis in McCoy tissue-culture cells but not in intestinal cells in vitro or in vivo. Toxins A and B had no effect on membrane permeability of either intestinal cells or McCoy cells.