Clostridium
314788
222576753
2008-06-30T02:15:55Z
WolfmanSF
1866741
/* Commercial uses */ add link
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgrey
| name = ''Clostridium''
| image = Clostridium difficile 01.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = [[Scanning electron microscope|SEM]] micrograph of ''[[Clostridium difficile]]'' colonies from a stool sample.
| regnum = [[Bacterium|Bacteria]]
| phylum = [[Firmicutes]]
| classis = [[Clostridia]]
| ordo = [[Clostridia]]les
| familia = [[Clostridiaceae]]
| genus = '''''Clostridium'''''
| genus_authority = Prazmowski 1880
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
''[[Clostridium acetobutylicum|C. acetobutylicum]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium aerotolerans|C. aerotolerans]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium beijerinckii|C. beijerinckii]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium bifermentans|C. bifermentans]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium botulinum|C. botulinum]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium butyricum|C. butyricum]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium chauvoei|C. chauvoei]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium colicanis|C. colicanis]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium difficile|C. difficile]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium formicaceticum|C. formicaceticum]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium ljungdahlii|C. ljungdahlii]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium laramie|C. laramie]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium novyi|C. novyi]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium perfringens|C. perfringens]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium phytofermentans|C. phytofermentans]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium piliforme|C. piliforme]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium sordellii|C. sordellii]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium sporogenes|C. sporogenes]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium tetani|C. tetani]]''<br />
''[[Clostridium tyrobutyricum|C. tyrobutyricum]]''<br />
}}
'''''Clostridium''''' is a [[genus]] of [[Gram-positive]] bacteria, belonging to the [[Firmicutes]]. They are obligate [[anaerobe]]s capable of producing [[endospore]]s.<ref name=Sherris>{{cite book | author = Ryan KJ, Ray CG (editors) | title = Sherris Medical Microbiology | edition = 4th ed. | publisher = McGraw Hill | year = 2004 | isbn = 0-8385-8529-9 }}</ref> Individual cells are rod-shaped, which gives them their name, from the [[Greek (language)|Greek]] ''kloster'' or spindle. These characteristics traditionally defined the genus, but they are not [[phylogenetics|phylogenetically]] significant; many species originally classified as ''Clostridium'' have been reclassified in other genera.
== Pathology ==
''Clostridium'' includes common free-living bacteria as well as important [[pathogen]]s.<ref name=Baron_a>{{cite book | author = Wells CL, Wilkins TD | title = Clostridia: Sporeforming Anaerobic Bacilli ''in:'' Baron's Medical Microbiology ''(Baron S ''et al'', eds.)| edition = 4th ed. | publisher = Univ of Texas Medical Branch | year = 1996 | url = http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=mmed.section.1050 | isbn = 0-9631172-1-1 }}</ref> There are four main species responsible for [[disease]] in humans:
* ''[[Clostridium botulinum|C. botulinum]]'', an organism producing a [[toxin]] in food/wound that causes [[botulism]].<ref name=Baron_b>{{cite book | author = Wells CL, Wilkins TD | title = Botulism and ''Clostridium botulinum'' ''in:'' Baron's Medical Microbiology ''(Baron S ''et al'', eds.)| edition = 4th ed. | publisher = Univ of Texas Medical Branch | year = 1996 | url = http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=mmed.section.1108 | isbn = 0-9631172-1-1 }}</ref>
* ''[[Clostridium difficile|C. difficile]]'', which can overgrow other [[gut flora|bacteria in the gut]] during [[antibiotic]] therapy, can cause [[pseudomembranous colitis]].<ref name=Baron_c>{{cite book | author = Wells CL, Wilkins TD | title = Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea, Pseudomembranous Colitis, and ''Clostridium difficile'' ''in:'' Baron's Medical Microbiology ''(Baron S ''et al'', eds.)| edition = 4th ed. | publisher = Univ of Texas Medical Branch | year = 1996 | url = http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=mmed.section.1122 | isbn = 0-9631172-1-1 }}</ref>
* ''[[Clostridium perfringens|C. perfringens]]'', causes a wide range of symptoms, from [[Foodborne illness|food poisoning]] to [[gas gangrene]]. Also responsible for [[enterotoxemia]] (also known as "overeating disease" or "pulpy kidney disease") in sheep and goats.<ref name=Baron_d>{{cite book | author = Wells CL, Wilkins TD | title = Other Pathogenic Clostridia Food Poisoning and ''Clostridium perfringens'' ''in:'' Baron's Medical Microbiology ''(Baron S ''et al'', eds.)| edition = 4th ed. | publisher = Univ of Texas Medical Branch | year = 1996 | url = http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=mmed.section.1131 | 0-9631172-1-1 }}</ref>
* ''[[Clostridium tetani|C. tetani]]'', the causative organism of [[tetanus]].<ref name=Baron_e>{{cite book | author = Wells CL, Wilkins TD | title = Tetanus and ''Clostribium tetani'' ''in:'' Baron's Medical Microbiology ''(Baron S ''et al'', eds.)| edition = 4th ed. | publisher = Univ of Texas Medical Branch | year = 1996 | url = http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=mmed.section.1099 | isbn = 0-9631172-1-1 }}</ref>
[[Honey]] sometimes contains ''Clostridium botulinum'' bacteria, which may cause infant botulism in humans one year old and under. The bacteria produce [[Botulinum toxin|botulinum toxin]], which eventually paralyzes the infant's breathing muscles.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Tanzi MG, Gabay MP |title=Association between honey consumption and infant botulism |journal=Pharmacotherapy |volume=22 |issue=11 |pages=1479–83 |year=2002 |pmid=12432974|doi=10.1592/phco.22.16.1479.33696}}</ref> ''
[[Clostridium sordellii|C. sordellii]]'' has been linked to the deaths of more than a dozen women after childbirth.
== Commercial uses ==
''[[Clostridium thermocellum|C. thermocellum]]'' can utilize lignocellulosic waste and generate ethanol, thus making it a possible candidate for use in ethanol production. It also has no oxygen requirement and is [[Thermophile|thermophilic]], reducing cooling cost. ''
''[[Clostridium acetobutylicum|C. acetobutylicum]]'', also known as the ''Weizmann organism'', was first used by [[Chaim Weizmann]] to produce [[acetone]] and [[biobutanol]] from [[starch]] in [[1916]] for the production of [[gunpowder]] and [[trinitrotoluene|TNT]].
The [[Anaerobic organism|anaerobic bacterium]] ''[[Clostridium ljungdahlii|C. ljungdahlii]]'', recently discovered in commercial chicken wastes, can produce ethanol from single-carbon sources including [[synthesis gas]], a mixture of [[carbon monoxide]] and [[hydrogen]] that can be generated from the partial [[combustion]] of either [[fossil fuel]]s or [[biomass]]. Use of these bacteria to produce ethanol from synthesis gas has progressed to the pilot plant stage at the BRI Energy facility in [[Fayetteville, Arkansas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brienergy.com/|title=Providing for a Sustainable Energy Future|publisher=Bioengineering Resources, inc|accessdaymonth=21 May|accessyear=2007}}</ref>
== References ==
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== External links ==
*[http://textbookofbacteriology.net/clostridia.html Todar's Online Textbook of Bacteriology]
*[http://www.cdiff-support.co.uk ''UK Clostridium difficile'' Support Group]
*[http://pathema.jcvi.org/cgi-bin/Clostridium/PathemaHomePage.cgi Pathema-''Clostridium'' Resource]
*Water analysis: Clostridium [http://www.tgw1916.net/movies.html video]
[[Category:Clostridiaceae]]
[[Category:Gram positive bacteria]]
[[Category:Gut flora]]
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