WELCOME TO THE BIRKBECK TOXIN STRUCTURE GROUP HOMEPAGE
This page is currently under construction.
We are:
We also have a very close collaboration with Dr Rick Titball and his staff at
CBD, Porton Down , who provide us with protein and much valuable
biochemical information. The following summarizes the projects being currently undertaken.
Our major project currently involves investigating the structure and
function of alpha-toxin, which is produced primarily by the B strain of
the anaerobic bacterium, Clostridium perfringens . We do this
work in collaboration with CBDE Porton Down.
C. perfringens is a normal part of the intestinal flora; here's a
picture:
But under particular conditions it can produce an array of up to 13 different
lethal toxins. These are associated with a large number of different diseases,
including:
1a). Clostridium perfringens Alpha-Toxin.
Alpha toxin can be regarded as perhaps the most medically important toxin produced
by Clostridium perfringens , it is the toxin primarily responsible for the prevelent
disease gas gangrene. Gas gangrene is a threat to elderly and diabetic populations.
It is also a threat to individuals possessing wounds succeptable to infection, for example soldiers
injured on the battle ground. Indeed, it considered a significant threat that some
countries may use Clostridium perfringens in biological weapons, and it is for
this reason that the Ministry of Defence (at Porton Down) has developed anti-toxin vaccines and is in the process of
developing drugs
based on the structure of alpha-toxin.
A report on the pathology of gas-gangrene and our group's progress towards crystallisation of
alpha toxin can be obtained by clicking
here.
1b). Clostridium perfringens Epsilon-Toxin.
Report on
Epsilon
which causes gastroenteritis. Similar to alpha toxin, the MOD is developing a
vaccine against epsilon toxin.
2. Clostridium bifermentans Phospholipase C.
3. Yersinia pestis (bubonic plague bacterium) F1 Coat Protein.
Crystallisation trials are underway on the F1 coat protein. The MOD have also
developed a vaccine against F1, which will be useful for protection against both
possible biological weapons and natural outbreaks of bubonic plague which still
occur worldwide.
4. Eukaryotic Release Factor 1 (ERF1).
AND FINALLY.......
Those of you who are ecologically or politically minded might be concerned to
know that prior to the Gulf War,
America shipped consignments of Clostridium perfringens to Saddam and that
intelligence reports suggest he was planning to use gas gangrene as a
biological weapon.
Please send any comments or bug reports about this page to
Claire
