COMPOSITION OF ANIMAL PROTEIN-FREE (APF) MEDIUM FOR THE CULTURE OF CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING BOTULINUM TOXIN

Abstract

This document relates to a medium composition for the production of botulinum toxin and, more specifically, to a medium composition for the cultivation of Clostridium sp. capable of producing botulinum toxin. The medium composition herein comprises at least one peptone of plant origin selected from the group consisting of a garden pea hydrolysate, a cottonseed hydrolysate, and a wheat gluten hydrolysate. When the medium described herein, containing peptones of plant and mineral origin, is used for the cultivation of Clostridium botulinum, the growth rate of the bacteria in the medium is approximately 1.5–2 times higher than that of currently used media. Furthermore, when botulinum toxin is produced by cultivating the bacteria in the medium, infection with transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) or similar conditions can be prevented by blocking the introduction of components of animal origin.

Claims

1. Animal protein-free (APF) medium composition for the cultivation of Clostridium botulinum, said composition characterized in that it comprises: a peptone of vegetable origin comprising 5 to 20 g / L of pea hydrolysate, 5 to 20 g / L of cottonseed hydrolysate, and 5 to 10 g / L of wheat gluten hydrolysate; a carbon source; and at least one mineral selected from the group consisting of K₂HPO₄ (dipotassium phosphate), Na₂HPO₄ (disodium phosphate), and KH₂PO₄ (monopotassium phosphate). Six claims follow.