Clostridium-Bacillus Flashcards
Clostridium is what gram stain and shape?
Gram + rods
Does clostridium form spores?
yes
What is clostridium’s O2 requirements?
Obligate anaerobes
_____ bacteria: environment (soil) + intestinal mucus
Clostridium
____ stains endospores green
Malachite green
_____ formation is essential for all Clostridial pathogenicities who infect by stable endospores
spore
____ are very resistant against destruction or sterilization such as multiple hours of boiling
-are not subject to antibiotics
spores
_____, a severe form of food poisoning (often home canning) ►paralysis (clostridium botulinum)
Botulism
________ is also possible from soil or fecal contamination (clostridium botulinum)
wound botulism
_______ in 3-20 week infants without full intestinal flora causes muscle weakness but rarely severe and generally resolves as intestinal flora develops (clostridium botulinum)
“infant botulism”
________: blocks Acetylcholine release ►flaccid muscles including respiratory paralysis ►death (clostridium botulinum)
botulinum neurotoxin (AB-exotoxin)
What forms of clostridium act via toxins and do NOT invade tissues?
Clostridium tetani, botulinum, difficile
Is botulinum toxin heat stable or labile?
Heat labile
Anti-toxin for botulinum toxin takes how much time to take effect?
Weeks to months
______ causes botulism; main virulence factor is botulinum neurotoxin (AB-exotoxin)
clostridium botulinum
Dirty, puncture wounds (knife, bullet, tattoo) are typical opportunities for anaerobic growth of this bacteria; main virulence factor is tetanospasmin
Clostridium tetani
Which clostridium species causes muscle paralysis?
C. botulinum
Which clostridium species causes muscle spastic paralysis?
C. tetani
_______: blocks GABA(gamma-aminobutyric acid) and glycine release ►loss of inhibitory input to motor neuron excitation ►uncontrolled muscle contraction “spastic paralysis”
-Toxin effect may be localized and one-sided (on
opposite side of infection); anti-toxin usually too late
tetanospasmin (tetanus AB-exotoxin neurotoxin, plasmid-encoded)
_____ toxin prevents muscle relaxation leading to 30-50% mortality
Tetanus toxin