Clostridia Flashcards
clostridium bacteria are gram _____ and _____ anearobes
positive, strict
Clostridium are known to produce endospores, what is their function
its a virulence mechanism putting them in a metabollically “inactive state” meaning it protects them from adverse conditions and will remain inside spores untill optimal conditions return
what triggers the induction of spore formation in Clostridia
unfavorable environmental conditions
what are the 4 subspecies of Clostridium that can cause disease in humans
C. difficile
C. perfringens
C. botulinum
C. tetani
C. difficile is responsible for the leading cause of what?
nosocomial diarhea
-meaning usually associated w/antibiotics
what virulence mechanism does C. difficile use to cause diarhea
Toxin A (Enterotoxin=fluid loss) Toxin B (Cytotoxin)
How could you diagnose C. difficile
ELISA detection of Toxin A
what makes up a pseudomembrane
fibrin + dead cells (via Toxin B)
What common disease is associated w/C. perfringens
gas gangrene
How does C. perfringens cause Gas gangrene
produces 12 toxins, specifically
Alpha-toxin (lecithinase)
What bacteria produces Alpha-toxin lecithinase, and what does it do
C. perfringens
-damages cell membranes causing gas gangrene
which bacteria causes a disease that has a 100 percent mortality rate if left untreated, what is it ?
C. perfringens
-gas gangrene
What species of clostridium can cause food posioning
C. perfringens from an enterotoxin produced
how do you treat an infection caused by C. perfringes casusing gas gangrene
surgical removal/amputation
what is significant about the spores produced by C. botulinum
spores are heat-resistent, meaning can survive food processing (canning)