The Role of Clostridium perfringens Toxins in Gas Gangrene

What is Gas Gangrene?

By Marysol Arce

A patient's right thigh severely affected by gas gangrene. Courtesy of Cases Journal, 2008, Vol. 1, Issue 252, published on BioMed Central (http://casesjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1757-1626-1-252.

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Subscript: H₂O
Superscript: Fe³⁺

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Alpha Toxin (PLC)

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All strains of C. perfringens produce the alpha toxin, also called CPA or PLC. The alpha toxin cleaves molecules from the surface the host cell's’ phospholipid bilayers and disrupts the membrane’s functions, which then promotes cell lysis and death.

Perfringolysin O (PFO)

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PFO associating with the lipid bilayer. Courtesy of Toxins Journal, 2015, Vol. 7, Issue 5, 1702-1721, published on MDPI: Open Access (http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/7/5/1702.

How Do These Toxins Help C. perfringens Persist and Spread in the Body?

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References

Schröpfer, Engelbert, Stephan Rauthe, and Thomas Meyer. "Diagnosis and Misdiagnosis of Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections: Three Case Reports." Cases Journal 1.252 (2008): n. pag. BioMed Central. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.

Awad, Milena M., Darren M. Ellemor, Richard L. Boyd, John J. Emmins, and Julian I. Rood. "Synergistic Effects of Alpha-Toxin and Perfringolysin O in Clostridium Perfringens-Mediated Gas Gangrene." Infection and Immunity 69.12 (2001): 7904-910. American Society for Microbiology. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.