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A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus JohnsonAE

Classification

Higher order taxa

Domain: Bacteria Phylum: Firmicutes Class: Clostridia Order: Clostridiales Family: Clostridiaceae

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

Genus species

Sordellii

Description and significance

Clostridium sordellii is an anaerobic, gram positive and spore forming bacterium. It has peritrichous flagella and its most common habitat is the soil but it is also found in intestines of animals and humans. Clostridium sordellii has both non-pathogenic strains and pathogenic strains. Its pathogenic strains are known to cause toxic shock syndrome in humans and enteritis in sheep and cattle (1). This bacterium is important because its pathogenic strain causes illnesses such as diarrhea and toxic shock which sometimes lead to death of the organism infected. Literature review of its virulence and resistance will be done and in addition, research on its non-pathogenic strain and its usefulness will also be looked into.

Genome structure

There are 42 Clostridium sordellii nucleotide sequences in the NCBI database. Examples are Clostridium sordellii 7-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase gene and Clostridium sordellii strain 1809_1 16S ribosomal RNA gene. All 42 have linear chromosomes and rangimg from 400-1600 base-pairs. There are also 3 known crystallized toxin structures of Clostridium sordelli and they are; 1)Crystal Structure of the Catalytic Domain of Lethal Toxin From Clostridium Sordellii In Complex With Udp-Glc and Calcium Ion 2)Crystal Structure of the Catalytic Domain of Lethal Toxin From Clostridium Sordellii In Complex With Udp, Castanospermine and Calcium Ion 3)Crystal Structure of the Catalytic Domain of Lethal Toxin From Clostridium Sordellii In Complex With Udp-Glc and Manganese Ion (2).

Cell structure and metabolism

Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

An important molecule that Clostridium sordellii produces that aids its pathogenic strain in surviving is its toxins. Clostridium sordellii produces a variety of different toxins such as exotoxin, endotoxin and hemorrhagic toxin. Its endotoxin is released when its cell wall disintegrates (4).

Ecology

Habitat; symbiosis; contributions to the environment.

Clostridium sordellii lives in the soil, sheep, cattle and human gastrointestinal tract. It is also primarily present in the microbe population of the human vagina (2&4).

Pathology

How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

Clostridium sordellii produces toxins only in its vegetative state and infects post pregnancy but primarily develops after childbirth. Sex hormones, steroid hormones, increased amino acid level and vaginal pH during pregnancy triggers the spores to germinate and also regulates its toxin production. Toxic shock caused by Clostridium sordellii toxins usually leads to 70% death in women (2). Pneumonia and endocarditis are other complications that can arise as a result of Clostridium sordellii infection. Symptoms of this infection include, severe abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting. Toxic shock symptoms include low blood pressure, loss of blood plasma, rapid heart rate, fever (6). In animals such as sheep and cattle, infection by Clostridium sordellii occurs after the ingestion of its spores as they are not readily present in these animals like they are in human vagina (2).

Current Research and or Application to Biotechnology

Enter summaries of the most recent research and/or application to biotechnology here--at least three required

A recent finding concerning Clostridium sordelli involves coconut fibers. Coir fiber is the hard husk extracted from coconut husk and in the process of extraction, coir pith, a by product is released. Coir pith is a plant nutrient and investigations showed that Clostridium sordelli is among the four nitrogenous fixing bacteria present in Coir pith (9). Another discovery about Clostridium sordellii is a new therapeutic option for combating its infection. This new method involves inhibiting one of its toxins(Tcsl) that causes apoptosis of phagocytotic cells using tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) that prevents apoptosis (10). Finally, another recent news concerning Clostridium sordellii is that bile salts and steroid hormones increase the capability of Clostridium sordelli spores to germinate hence becoming toxin producing vegetative cells.

References

1)[1]M. J. Aldape, A. E. Bryant,and D. L. Stevens "Clostridium sordellii Infection: Epidemiology,Clinical Findings, and Current Perspectives on Diagnosis and Treatment" Clinical Infectious Diseases. (2006) 43 (11): 1436-1446 2)[2] NCBI DATABASE 3)