Conjugative transfer and instability of beta-toxin plasmids of C. perfringens type C

Clostridium perfringens is commonly isolated from both humans and animals and is responsible for a complex spectrum of diseases due to its ability to produce combinations of >20 different toxins. C. perfringens has a unique family of conjugative plasmids that encode toxin and antibiotic resistance genes. In this thesis the movement of a beta toxin plasmid from a human disease isolate has been demonstrated for the first time. In addition, the instability of toxin plasmids was observed and characterised in this thesis. For the first time, this study provides experimental evidence of plasmid instability in isolates of C. perfringens.