Clostridium Flashcards
Clostridium
gram positive rods
obligate anaerobes
can form heat resistant endospores
are common inhabitants of gastrointestinal tract
play an important role in biofuels and agriculture
Are important human and animal pathogen
Anaerobic culture techniques
use a gas chamber containing a mixture of carbon hydrogen and nitrogen
Ensure the walls of chamber have very low oxygen permeability so oxygen is unable to get in
Ensure all equipment is placed inside chamber such as culture media and carry out manipulations inside chamber
Use entry port for oxygen evacuation + entry and exit of materials
Spores
Clostridial Endospores
• Clostridium form endospores under adverse
environmental conditions, such as the presence of
oxygen
• Spores are a survival mechanism
• Spores are characterised on the basis of position,
size and shape, can be used for identification
How is spore produced
There are two cycles - vegetative cycle and sporulation
Vegetative cell are when bacterial cells are dividing and doubling population
Sporulation is triggered in adverse environmental conditions
1. Polar division to form prespore, septum and mother cell compartment.
2. All DNA from cell is pumped into the prespore.
3. Layers form around spore such as cortex and cell wall and cell membrane.
4. There is the formation of a spore coat around the spore which acts as armour
5. cell lyses, releasing spore into the environment
6. spore will germinate when conditions are right again and reenter vegetative cycle
Bacterial endospore structure
intermembrane, cortex, outermebrane, spore coat, exosporium (not always there)
Types of Clostridium pathogens
The Pathogenic Clostridia Neurotoxic C. tetani C. botulinum Enterotoxic C. perfringens C. difficile Histotoxic C. perfringens
Common feature: produce potent protein toxins
Clostridium tetani
Neurotoxic Clostridia
• Clostridium tetani
— causative agent of tetanus
— produces tetanus toxin
• neurotoxin
— pathogenesis involves
• entry of spore into deep wound as in deep wounds blood circulation is cut off and there is no oxygen - anaerobic environment
• germination Of spore in anaerobic environment
• production of toxin by growing bacteria which is
released when they die
• toxin binds to nerve endings and is translocated into
nerve cells
• inhibits neurotransmitter release
• blockage of muscle relaxation pathway
Tetanus toxin effects
Pathogenesis of Tetanus • Results in uncontrolled stimulation of muscles —tension, cramping twisting of muscles —spasms and convulsions —rigid paralysis —death from spasms of the diaphragm and respiratory muscles • Vaccination using tetanus toxoid is an effective preventative measure
Clostridium botilunum
Neurotoxic Clostridia
• Clostridium botulinum
— causative agent of botulism
• food-borne disease
• commonly acquired from contaminated canned foods
that have been inadequately heated
— pathogenesis
• spores germinate in food and toxin is produced
during vegetative growth
• pre-formed toxin (BoNT) is ingested with food
• toxin localises in neuromuscular junction
• blocks release of neurotransmitter
Effects of botulin toxin
Pathogenesis of Botulism • Results in an uncontrolled relaxation of muscles — symptoms within 18 to 24 hrs of ingesting toxin — blurred vision, difficulty swallowing and speaking, muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting — flaccid paralysis — death due to cardiac or respiratory failure • No vaccine available — can treat with antitoxin if administered quickly
Clostridium perfringens
Enterotoxic Clostridia — human disease
• Clostridium perfringens
— aerotolerant anaerobe; forms spores
— can cause food poisoning
• present in meat that has been heated and cooled slowly
• ingested in huge numbers
— produces an enterotoxin
• bacterial cells sporulate in the intestine
• production of enterotoxin is associated with sporulation
— onset of symptoms after 8 to 16 hours
• watery diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal cramps
C: perfringen disease in animals
C. perfringens toxins and disease
• Enteric pathogen of humans and animals
— humans: food poisoning, gas gangrene
— animals: enterotoxaemic diseases
• Virulence largely attributed to the productionof up to >22
toxins, particularly in animal diseases
• However, not all isolates express all toxins
• Vaccines are often toxin-based
What do you need to get Clostridium infection?
Predisposing factors are critical for susceptibility
Type D C.pefringens
C. perfringens type D infections
Type D strains colonise the gut. Predisposing factors:
I - Carbohydrates in diet — sudden changes
2 - Bacterial contamination levels
3 - Immune status - vaccination
Effects of C.perfringens toxin
Pathogenesis of Type D infections Pro-E-toxin: produced in intestine activated by trypsin/other proteases increases intestinal permeability absorbed systemic circulation endothelial cells of brain, kidney etc.
