Partial purification and characterization of Salmonella cytotoxin.

The cytotoxins of two strains of Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Nchanga (MP2309) and Virchow (MP1871) were partially purified and characterized physicochemically. The toxin was salt-precipitable and non-dialysable. Upon filtration through Sephadex G-100 gel column, the toxicity was observed mainly in 2nd peak. The cytotoxic activity was lost completely when heated at 121 degrees C for 15 min. The toxin was found active between a narrow range of pH (i.e., 6.0 to 9.0). The cytotoxic activity was destroyed by treatment with trypsin and protease but the activity was not affected by papain.