Pathogenicity and virulence of Clostridium perfringens

Abstract

Clostridium perfringens is an extremely versatile pathogen of humans and livestock, causing wound infections like gas gangrene (clostridial myonecrosis), enteritis/enterocolitis (including one of the most common human food-borne illnesses), and enterotoxemia (where toxins produced in the intestine are absorbed and damage distant organs such as the brain). The virulence of this Gram-positive, spore-forming, anaerobe is largely attributable to its copious toxin production; the diverse actions and roles in infection of these toxins are now becoming established. Most C. perfringens toxin genes are encoded on conjugative plasmids, including the pCW3-like and the recently discovered pCP13-like plasmid families. Production of C. perfringens toxins is highly regulated via processes involving two-component regulatory systems, quorum sensing and/or sporulation-related alternative sigma factors. Non-toxin factors, such as degradative enzymes like sialidases, are also now being implicated in the pathogenicity of this bacterium. These factors can promote toxin action in vitro and, perhaps in vivo , and also enhance C. perfringens intestinal colonization, e.g. NanI sialidase increases C. perfringens adherence to intestinal tissue and generates nutrients for its growth, at least in vitro . The possible virulence contributions of many other factors, such as adhesins, the capsule and biofilms, largely await future study.

Unraveling the Microbiome of Necrotizing Enterocolitis: Insights in Novel Microbial and Metabolomic Biomarkers

“…In contrast, PN-CST2 and PN-CST3 showed higher taxonomic complexity. Still, they were dominated by well-recognized pathogens frequently involved in nosocomial infections, such as K. pneumoniae ( 61 ) and Proteus mirabilis ( 62 , 63 ) in PN-CST2 or Clostridium perfringens ( 64 ), Clostridium neonatale ( 65 ), Pantoea dispersa ( 66 , 67 ), and Staphylococcus aureus ( 68 ) in PN-CST3 (Table S9; Fig. 5 ).…”

Improving Food Safety Culture in Nigeria: A Review of Practical Issues

“…In February 2016, thirteen people died, while ten others were hospitalized for food poisoning caused by Clostridium perfringes in Abuja Nigeria's capital [54]. Clostridium perfringes is a bacterium that occurs in the soil and contaminates food and, subsequently, the intestinal tract of human beings [55].…”

Bacillus subtilis DSM29784 Alleviates Negative Effects on Growth Performance in Broilers by Improving the Intestinal Health Under Necrotic Enteritis Challenge

“…Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an enteric disease with a significant economic burden, in terms of mortality and welfare, on the poultry industry, especially in broiler chickens in China ( Wu et al, 2012 ; Gu et al, 2019 ; Khan et al, 2021 ). The causative agent of NE is Clostridium perfringens (CP), a ubiquitous Gram-positive bacterium that produces spores and highly potent toxins ( Gohari et al, 2021 ). Clinical NE is characterized by high mortality in poultry, while subclinical NE (SNE), which is becoming more prevalent, is mainly characterized by intestinal mucosal damage without clinical signs or mortality ( Rajput et al, 2020 ).…”