The Role of Clostridium perfringens Toxins in Gas Gangrene: Difference between revisions
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Clostridium perfringens is a gram positive and rod shaped bacterium. It lives in anaerobic environments like the soil and inside the gut of humans and animals. There are five different strains of Clostridium perfringens: A, B, C, D, and E. The A strain is of the most importance because it causes gas gangrene, or myonecrosis, in humans. Gangrene is the death of body tissue and usually seen in elderly people or diabetic people. Open wounds that become infected by bacteria also become gangrenous. Gas gangrene is an especially dangerous form because it spreads quickly throughout the body if left untreated, and can be fatal. C. perfringens produces toxins that kills cells and releases gas, leaving parts of the body black, purple, and covered with blisters. | Clostridium perfringens is a gram positive and rod shaped bacterium. It lives in anaerobic environments like the soil and inside the gut of humans and animals. There are five different strains of Clostridium perfringens: A, B, C, D, and E. The A strain is of the most importance because it causes gas gangrene, or myonecrosis, in humans. Gangrene is the death of body tissue and usually seen in elderly people or diabetic people. Open wounds that become infected by bacteria also become gangrenous. Gas gangrene is an especially dangerous form because it spreads quickly throughout the body if left untreated, and can be fatal. C. perfringens produces toxins that kills cells and releases gas, leaving parts of the body black, purple, and covered with blisters. | ||
The A strain C. perfringens produces two toxins that enable the spread of the bacterium and tissue death: the alpha toxin and perfringolysin O. The alpha toxin, also known as CPA or PLC, is a crucial virulence factor for this bacterium because it cannot cause gas gangrene without it. The alpha toxin and perfringolysin O (PFO) work synergistically to accomplish the spread of infection. | |||
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Revision as of 23:51, 21 April 2016
What is Gas Gangrene?
By Marysol Arce
Clostridium perfringens is a gram positive and rod shaped bacterium. It lives in anaerobic environments like the soil and inside the gut of humans and animals. There are five different strains of Clostridium perfringens: A, B, C, D, and E. The A strain is of the most importance because it causes gas gangrene, or myonecrosis, in humans. Gangrene is the death of body tissue and usually seen in elderly people or diabetic people. Open wounds that become infected by bacteria also become gangrenous. Gas gangrene is an especially dangerous form because it spreads quickly throughout the body if left untreated, and can be fatal. C. perfringens produces toxins that kills cells and releases gas, leaving parts of the body black, purple, and covered with blisters. The A strain C. perfringens produces two toxins that enable the spread of the bacterium and tissue death: the alpha toxin and perfringolysin O. The alpha toxin, also known as CPA or PLC, is a crucial virulence factor for this bacterium because it cannot cause gas gangrene without it. The alpha toxin and perfringolysin O (PFO) work synergistically to accomplish the spread of infection.
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