3.20 Flashcards
Clostridium characteristics (4)
Gram+ rods endospore forming obligate anaerobic (spores are O2 resistant) environment (soil) + intestinal mucus
Endospore staining
(also: used for aerobic
endospore formers like
Gram+ Bacillus) (2)
malachite green
endospores stain green
Clostridium
Virulence Factor:
spore formation is essential for all Clostridial
pathogenicities who infect by stable endospores
spore formation is essential for all Clostridial
pathogenicities who infect by stable endospores
(2)
§ spores are very resistant against destruction or
sterilization such as multiple hours of boiling
§ spores are not subject to antibiotics
Botulism,
a severe form of food poisoning (often home canning)
► paralysis
wound botulism is also possible from
“infant botulism”
soil or fecal contamination
in 3-20 week infants without full intestinal flora
causes muscle weakness but rarely severe and generally
resolves as intestinal flora develops
Clostridium botulinum
Virulence Factors:
Ø botulinum neurotoxin (AB-exotoxin) blocks Acetylcholine release
► flaccid muscles including respiratory paralysis ► death
Clostridium botulinum
No tissue invasion
-acts through —
toxins
While spores are heat-stable,
botulinum toxin is heat—
labile
Anti-toxin neutralization
takes
weeks to months!
Dirty, puncture wounds (knife, bullet, tattoo) are typical opportunities for anaerobic growth of
C.tetani
Bacterial growth remains localized but tetanus toxin spreads
Ø tetanospasmin
(tetanus AB-exotoxin neurotoxin, plasmid-encoded) blocks GABA (gammaaminobutyric acid) and glycine release ► loss of inhibitory input to motor neuron excitation ►
uncontrolled muscle contraction “spastic paralysis”
Toxin effect may be localized and one-sided (on opposite side of infection); anti-toxin usually
too late
Clostridium tetani
No tissue invasion
-acts through —
toxins
Tetanus toxin prevents
muscle relaxation
tetanus = “—”
Tetanus effects can be (2)
lockjaw
general or localized