DOCSLIB.ORG

Clostridium Botulinum

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Clostridium Botulinum Clostridium botulinum EA Johnson, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA Ó 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Introduction South America. The principal habitat of type E spores appears to be freshwater and brackish marine habitats. It commonly Botulism is a neuroparalytic disease in humans and animals, has been found in the Great Lakes of the United States and in resulting from the actions of neurotoxins produced by Clos- the western seacoasts of Washington state and Alaska. Type C tridium botulinum and rare strains of Clostridium butyricum strains occur worldwide, whereas the distribution of type D is and Clostridium baratii. Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are more limited and is especially common in certain regions of the most poisonous toxins known, and are toxic by the oral, Africa. intravenous, and inhalational routes. It is estimated that Clostridium botulinum is a diverse species including organ- 0.1–1 mg of BoNT is sufficient to kill a human and the lethal isms differing widely in physiological properties and genetic À dose for most animals is w1ngkg 1 body weight. Foodborne relatedness. They all share the ability to produce BoNT and botulism occurs following ingestion of BoNT preformed in cause botulism in humans and animals. The neurotoxins are foods. Botulism also can result from ingestion of spores and distinguished serologically by homologous antisera and growth and BoNT production by C. botulinum in the intestine, designated as serotypes A to G. C. botulinum types A, B, and E which is absorbed into circulation (infant botulism and adult most commonly cause botulism in humans, whereas types B, intestinal botulism). C, and D cause the disease in various animal species. Clos- Since the early 1900s, botulism has been a serious concern tridium botulinum consists of four physiological groups (I–IV) of the food industry and regulatory agencies because of the with diverse physiological and genetic characteristics. Group IV resistance properties of the pathogen, its ability to survive and C. botulinum is the only group that has not been demonstrated grow in many foods, and the severity of the disease. Resistant to cause botulism in humans or animals and has been assigned endospores produced by C. botulinum are distributed widely in to the species Clostridium argentinense. The organisms are soils and contaminate many foods. In improperly processed morphologically large rods, typically 1 Â 4–6 mm with oval, and preserved foods, the endospores can germinate and vege- subterminal spores that swell the rod giving the characteristic tative cells proliferate to form BoNTs, which cause botulism on ‘tennis-racket’ or spindle-shaped cells (Figure 1). Spores of ingestion. Consequently, a major goal of the food industry and most pathogenic species of clostridia can be produced in of regulatory agencies is to prevent survival of spores and complex laboratory media, such as chopped meat broth or proliferation of vegetative cells in foods, and certain food tryptose–peptone–glucose broth. regulations and industry practices have been designed specifi- Groups I and II are the cause of human botulism, whereas cally to prevent growth and toxin formation by C. botulinum. group III causes botulism in various taxa of animals. The The importance of C. botulinum and its neurotoxins in food primary properties and limiting growth parameters of safety has contributed to unique research approaches and C. botulinum groups I and II pertaining to foods are presented preventative measures in food microbiology. in Table 1. Organisms in group I are proteolytic, and may produce type A, B, or F BoNT. They may form highly heat- resistant spores, have an optimum growth temperature of Characteristics of C. botulinum 30–40 C, and are inhibited by 10% NaCl. Organisms in group II commonly are referred to as nonproteolytic, require The genus Clostridium is a large and diverse group with more sugars for growth, and may produce either type B, E, or F than 120 species. It includes anaerobic or aerotolerant rod- BoNT. They have a lower optimum temperature for growth shaped bacteria that produce endospores and obtain their (20–30 C), and some strains of types B and E can grow slowly energy for growth by fermentation. Clostridia are classified on in foods at temperatures as low as 3.3 C. Consequently, there the basis of morphology, disease association, physiology, serologic properties, DNA relatedness, and ribosomal RNA gene sequence homologies. Many species of clostridia produce protein toxins that are lethal to animals and are responsible for their pathogenicity. Botulinogenic clostridia are distributed widely in nature by virtue of their ability to form resistant endospores. The two principal habitats are soils, including marine and freshwater sediments, and the gastrointestinal tracts of certain animals (but not healthy humans). The inci- dence of spores of C. botulinum varies according to geographic region. In the United States, type A is found most commonly west of the Rocky Mountains, and type B is found in certain regions of the eastern United States. Type B from non- Figure 1 Characteristic spindle morphology of C. botulinum. The proteolytic strains of C. botulinum also frequently is found in photograph shows a transmission electron micrograph (Â50 000) of Europe. Type A is found infrequently in the soils of England. a longitudinal section through a spore and sporangium of C. botulinum Type A spores have also been detected in soils of China and type A. 458 Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology, Volume 1 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00072-0 CLOSTRIDIUM j Clostridium botulinum 459 Table 1 Factors controlling growth and inactivation of C. botulinum an F0 of 3 min since other factors control their safety from in foods C. botulinum. In preserved food products, C. botulinum growth can be C. botulinum group prevented by a single factor, such as extensive thermal pro- Factor IIIcessing (a ‘bot cook’). Often, a combination of factors is used to prevent C. botulinum growth in low-acid foods (pH4.6). For Minimal pH 4.6 5.0 example, in cured meats, the combination of a mild heat Minimal a 0.94 0.97 w treatment, and the presence of nitrite and salt prevents growth. Required brine concentration for 10 5 growth inhibition (%) Challenging foods with spores of C. botulinum and determining Minimum temperature (C) 10 3.3 whether BoNT is produced in optimal conditions or on Maximum temperature (C) 50 45 temperature abuse is often a desired procedure to evaluate the D100 of spores (min) 30 <0.2 botulinogenic safety of a food, particularly in new products or D121 of spores (min) 0.2 – new formulations. Because of the severity of botulinum poisoning, the food industry has devoted considerable research and resources to has been considerable concern that group II organisms can prevent botulism outbreaks in foods. The control of this grow and produce toxin in refrigerated foods that receive organism is of such paramount importance to the safety of minimal processing and have extended shelf life. Strains that foods that certain food laws and definitions such as thermal produce type E toxin commonly are associated with food- processing of low-acid foods in hermetically sealed containers borne botulism transmitted in contaminated fish or marine were designed specifically to control C. botulinum. The products. Group II strains that produce type B toxin com- organism has served as a ‘barometer’ by which to gauge certain monly are found in Europe and are associated with botulism advances in food formulation and processing. Thus, newly from salt-cured meats. developed foods and food processes may need to be evaluated The D value is the time at a specified temperature to inac- for their impact on C. botulinum growth and toxin formation. tivate 90% of spores. An industry ‘bot cook’ is typically These efforts and vigilance by the food industry have contrib- designed to inactivate 1012 of spores (see below). uted to a safe food supply. Control of C. botulinum in Foods Clinical Features of Botulism The primary factors controlling growth of C. botulinum in foods Botulism is categorized according to the route by which BoNT are temperature, pH, water activity, redox potential, oxygen enters the human circulation. Classical foodborne botulism level, presence of preservatives, and competing microflora. In results from the ingestion of neurotoxin preformed in foods. the commercial setting, botulism can occur when a food is Botulism caused by food poisoning generally has an incuba- exposed inadvertently to temperatures that allow growth and tion period of 12–36 h after consumption of a toxic food. toxin formation. Because BoNT is extremely potent, quantities Wound botulism is analogous to tetanus and occurs when sufficient to cause botulism can be formed without obvious C. botulinum grows and produces toxin in the infected tissue. spoilage of foods. In most foods, C. botulinum is a poor Intestinal botulism results from the growth and toxin produc- competitor and other microorganisms, such as lactic acid tion by C. botulinum in the intestine (infant botulism and adult bacteria, often grow more rapidly, commonly lowering the pH, intestinal botulism). Because BoNT is entirely responsible for producing inhibitory metabolites, and preventing growth. the clinical symptoms, the three types of botulism exhibit Spores of C. botulinum, however, are more resistant to heat, similar clinical symptoms. The characteristic symptomatology irradiation, and other processing methods than are vegetative of botulism poisoning is a progressive descending symmetrical cells of competing organisms. Therefore, minimal processing of flaccid paralysis initially affecting musculature innervated by foods can eliminate or reduce the numbers of competing cranial nerves. The first signs are typically disturbances in ocular microflora and increase the probability of C. botulinum growing function, including blurred and double vision, and the pupils and producing toxin. The critical level of oxygen that will become enlarged and unresponsive to light.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Botulism: Guidance for Health Care Providers Key Medical and Public Health Interventions After Identification of a Suspected Case
    Virginia Department of Health Botulism: Guidance for Health Care Providers Key Medical and Public Health Interventions after Identification of a Suspected Case Table of Contents 1. Epidemiology ........................................................................................................................................ 1 2. Clinical Manifestations .......................................................................................................................... 2 3. Laboratory Testing and Diagnosis ......................................................................................................... 3 4. Treatment ............................................................................................................................................. 6 5. Post-exposure Prophylaxis .................................................................................................................... 6 6. Vaccination ........................................................................................................................................... 6 7. Infection Control ................................................................................................................................... 6 8. Decontamination .................................................................................................................................. 7 9. Postmortem Practices ........................................................................................................................... 7 10. Public Health
    [Show full text]
  • National Enteric Disease Surveillance: Botulism
    Natio nal Enteric Disease Surveillance: Botulism Surveillance Overview Surveillance System Overview: National Botulism Surveillance System Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum and sometimes by strains of Clostridium butyricum and Clostridium baratii. Botulism can be treated with an antitoxin that blocks the action of toxin circulating in the blood. Antitoxin for children one year of age and older and for adults is available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Alaska Division of Public Health (ADPH), and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH); Colored transmission electron micrograph of the antitoxin for infants is available from CDPH. Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria Clostridium botulinum Antitoxin can be released through state public health officials for suspected botulism cases and is most effective when administered early in a patient’s illness. State public health officials can reach the CDC clinical emergency botulism service for consultation and antitoxin 24/7 at 770-488-7100. Physicians should contact their state health department as soon as they suspect that a patient may have botulism. For surveillance purposes, CDC categorizes human botulism cases into four transmission categories: foodborne, wound, infant, and other. Foodborne botulism is caused by the consumption of foods containing pre-formed botulinum toxin. Wound botulism is caused by toxin produced in a wound infected with Clostridium botulinum. Infant botulism by definition occurs in persons less than one year of age and is caused by consumption of spores of C. botulinum, which then grow and release toxins in the intestines.
    [Show full text]
  • Clostridium Amazonitimonense, Clostridium Me
    ORIGINAL ARTICLE Taxonogenomic description of four new Clostridium species isolated from human gut: ‘Clostridium amazonitimonense’, ‘Clostridium merdae’, ‘Clostridium massilidielmoense’ and ‘Clostridium nigeriense’ M. T. Alou1, S. Ndongo1, L. Frégère1, N. Labas1, C. Andrieu1, M. Richez1, C. Couderc1, J.-P. Baudoin1, J. Abrahão2, S. Brah3, A. Diallo1,4, C. Sokhna1,4, N. Cassir1, B. La Scola1, F. Cadoret1 and D. Raoult1,5 1) Aix-Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Marseille, France, 2) Laboratório de Vírus, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 3) Hopital National de Niamey, BP 247, Niamey, Niger, 4) Campus Commun UCAD-IRD of Hann, Route des pères Maristes, Hann Maristes, BP 1386, CP 18524, Dakar, Senegal and 5) Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Abstract Culturomics investigates microbial diversity of the human microbiome by combining diversified culture conditions, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA gene identification. The present study allowed identification of four putative new Clostridium sensu stricto species: ‘Clostridium amazonitimonense’ strain LF2T, ‘Clostridium massilidielmoense’ strain MT26T, ‘Clostridium nigeriense’ strain Marseille-P2414T and ‘Clostridium merdae’ strain Marseille-P2953T, which we describe using the concept of taxonogenomics. We describe the main characteristics of each bacterium and present their complete genome sequence and annotation. © 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Keywords: ‘Clostridium amazonitimonense’, ‘Clostridium massilidielmoense’, ‘Clostridium merdae’, ‘Clostridium nigeriense’, culturomics, emerging bacteria, human microbiota, taxonogenomics Original Submission: 18 August 2017; Revised Submission: 9 November 2017; Accepted: 16 November 2017 Article published online: 22 November 2017 intestine [1,4–6].
    [Show full text]
  • A Report of 22 Unrecorded Bacterial Species in Korea, Isolated from Namhangang
    Journal114 of Species Research 7(2):114-122, 2018JOURNAL OF SPECIES RESEARCH Vol. 7, No. 2 A report of 22 unrecorded bacterial species in Korea, isolated from Namhangang Chaeyun Baek1 and Hana Yi1,2,* 1Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea 2School of Biosystem and Biomedical Science, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea *Correspondent: [email protected] As part of a larger study of indigenous prokaryotic species diversity in South Korea, various samples from Namhangang were subjected to analyses. Fresh water, underwater sediment, and moss-inhabiting aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were isolated. 22 of the isolates were identified as unrecorded bacterial species in Korea that had ≥98.7% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with published species. The aerobic strains isolated were Kurthia gibsonii and Massilia plicata. Also identified were four facultative anaerobic strains: Bacillus hisashii, Enterococcus rotai, Paenibacillus vini, and Pediococcus pentosaceus. 16 strictly anaerobic strains were identified as Bacteroides xylanolyticus, Carnobacterium maltaromaticum, Clostridium argentinense, Clostridium beijerinckii, Clostridium butyricum, Clostridium cavendishii, Clostridium diolis, Clostridium frigidicarnis, Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum, Clostridium sphenoides, Clostridium subterminale, Cutibacterium acnes, Paraclostridium bifermentans, Prevotella paludivivens, and Romboutsia lituseburensis. Based on the examination of morphological, cultural, physiological, and biochemical properties of the isolates, descriptive information of these previously unrecorded species is provided here. Keywords: anaerobes, Namhangang, unrecorded species Ⓒ 2018 National Institute of Biological Resources DOI:10.12651/JSR.2018.7.2.114 INTRODUCTION and Jungnyeongcheon, are freshwater rivers with 10.19 km2, 69.11 km2, 150.5 km2, and 130.19 km2 areas, respec- While molecular methods have supplanted traditional tively.
    [Show full text]
  • Virulence Plasmids of the Pathogenic Clostridia SARAH A
    Virulence Plasmids of the Pathogenic Clostridia SARAH A. REVITT-MILLS, CALLUM J. VIDOR, THOMAS D. WATTS, DENA LYRAS, JULIAN I. ROOD, and VICKI ADAMS Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia ABSTRACT The clostridia cause a spectrum of diseases in extrachromosomally. These toxins have diverse mecha- humans and animals ranging from life-threatening tetanus and nisms of action and include pore-forming cytotoxins, botulism, uterine infections, histotoxic infections and enteric phospholipases, metalloproteases, ADP-ribosyltransferases diseases, including antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and food and large glycosyltransferases. This review focuses on poisoning. The symptoms of all these diseases are the result of potent protein toxins produced by these organisms. These toxins these toxins and the elements that carry the toxin struc- are diverse, ranging from a multitude of pore-forming toxins tural genes. For ease of discussion it has been structured to phospholipases, metalloproteases, ADP-ribosyltransferases on a bacterial species-specific basis. and large glycosyltransferases. The location of the toxin genes is the unifying theme of this review because with one or two exceptions they are all located on plasmids or on bacteriophage PAENICLOSTRIDIUM (CLOSTRIDIUM) that replicate using a plasmid-like intermediate. Some of these SORDELLII plasmids are distantly related whilst others share little or no similarity. Many of these toxin plasmids have been shown to Virulence Properties of P. sordellii be conjugative. The mobile nature of these toxin genes gives Paeniclostridium (formerly Clostridium) sordellii causes a ready explanation of how clostridial toxin genes have been several severe diseases in both humans and animals.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Microbiota Reveals Novel Taxa and Extensive Sporulation Hilary P
    OPEN LETTER doi:10.1038/nature17645 Culturing of ‘unculturable’ human microbiota reveals novel taxa and extensive sporulation Hilary P. Browne1*, Samuel C. Forster1,2,3*, Blessing O. Anonye1, Nitin Kumar1, B. Anne Neville1, Mark D. Stares1, David Goulding4 & Trevor D. Lawley1 Our intestinal microbiota harbours a diverse bacterial community original faecal sample and the cultured bacterial community shared required for our health, sustenance and wellbeing1,2. Intestinal an average of 93% of raw reads across the six donors. This overlap was colonization begins at birth and climaxes with the acquisition of 72% after de novo assembly (Extended Data Fig. 2). Comparison to a two dominant groups of strict anaerobic bacteria belonging to the comprehensive gene catalogue that was derived by culture-independent Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla2. Culture-independent, genomic means from the intestinal microbiota of 318 individuals4 found that approaches have transformed our understanding of the role of the 39.4% of the genes in the larger database were represented in our cohort human microbiome in health and many diseases1. However, owing and 73.5% of the 741 computationally derived metagenomic species to the prevailing perception that our indigenous bacteria are largely identified through this analysis were also detectable in the cultured recalcitrant to culture, many of their functions and phenotypes samples. remain unknown3. Here we describe a novel workflow based on Together, these results demonstrate that a considerable proportion of targeted phenotypic culturing linked to large-scale whole-genome the bacteria within the faecal microbiota can be cultured with a single sequencing, phylogenetic analysis and computational modelling that growth medium.
    [Show full text]
  • Regulation of Toxin Synthesis in Clostridium Botulinum and Clostridium Tetani Chloé Connan, Cécile Denève, Christelle Mazuet, Michel Popoff
    Regulation of toxin synthesis in Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium tetani Chloé Connan, Cécile Denève, Christelle Mazuet, Michel Popoff To cite this version: Chloé Connan, Cécile Denève, Christelle Mazuet, Michel Popoff. Regulation of toxin synthesis in Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium tetani. Toxicon, Elsevier, 2013, 75 (3), pp.90 - 100. 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.06.001. pasteur-01792396 HAL Id: pasteur-01792396 https://hal-pasteur.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-01792396 Submitted on 1 Aug 2018 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike| 4.0 International License 1 REGULATION OF TOXIN SYNTHESIS IN CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM AND CLOSTRIDIUM TETANI Chloé CONNAN, Cécile DENÈVE, Christelle MAZUET, Michel R. POPOFF* Institut Pasteur, Unité des Bactéries Anaérobies et Toxines, Paris, France Key words: Clostridium botulinum, Clsotridfium tetani, botulinum neurotoxin, tetanus toxin, regulation Corresponding author Institut Pasteur, Unité des Bactéries Anaérobies et Toxines, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris cedex15, France [email protected] 2 ABSTRACT Botulinum and tetanus neurotoxins are structurally and functionally related proteins that are potent inhibitors of neuroexocytosis. Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) associates with non-toxic proteins (ANTPs) to form complexes of various sizes, whereas tetanus toxin (TeNT) does not form any complex.
    [Show full text]
  • Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories—6Th Edition
    Section VIII—Agent Summary Statements The agent summary statements contained in Section VIII of the sixth edition of Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) are designed to assist the reader with the risk assessment for their work, as directed in Section II. The statements are assembled by subject matter experts and represent a summary of key information regarding pathogens with significance to the biomedical community. Although the statements provide recommendations regarding containment for specific activities, they should serve only as the starting point for a laboratory’s risk assessment and should not serve as a substitute for an assessment. The statements cannot fully factor in the change in risk due to the size of a sample, concentration of agent present, change in virulence or pathogenicity, nor any change in ability to provide medical countermeasures due to antibiotic or antiviral resistance. The following list of agents is also not comprehensive, and the reader is directed to other information to assist in the risk assessment, including the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Pathogen Safety Data Sheets (PSDS),1 the American Public Health Association’s Control of Communicable Diseases Manual,2 American Society for Microbiology Manual of Clinical Microbiology,3 and the ABSA Interna- tional Risk Group Database.4 References 1. Government of Canada [Internet]. Canada: Public Health Agency of Canada; c2018 [cited 2018 Dec 20]. Pathogen Safety Data Sheets. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/laboratory- biosafety-biosecurity/pathogen-safety-data-sheets-risk-assessment.html 2. Heymann DL, editor. Control of Communicable Diseases Manual. 20th ed.
    [Show full text]
  • Characterization of Clostridium Spp. Isolated from Selected Surface Water Systems and Aquatic Sediment
    Characterization of Clostridium spp. isolated from selected surface water systems and aquatic sediment JCJ Fourie 22820337 Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Magister Scientiae in Microbiology at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University Supervisor: Prof CC Bezuidenhout Co-Supervisor: Dr C Mienie May 2017 Abstract Clostridium are ubiquitous in nature and common inhabitants of the gastrointestinal track of humans and animals. Some are pathogenic or toxin producers. These pathogenic Clostridium species can be introduced into surface water systems through various sources, such as effluent from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and surface runoff from agricultural areas. In a South African context, little information is available on this subject. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize Clostridium species isolated from surface water and aquatic sediment in selected river systems across the North West Province in South Africa. To achieve this aim, this study had two main objectives. The first objective focused on determining the prevalence of Clostridium species in surface water of the Schoonspruit, Crocodile and Groot Marico Rivers and evaluate its potential as an indicator of faecal pollution, along with the possible health risks associated with these species. The presence of sulphite-reducing Clostridium (SRC) species were confirmed in all three surface water systems using the Fung double tube method. The high levels of SRC were correlated with those of other faecal indicator organisms (FIO). WWTP alongside the rivers were identified as one of the major contributors of SRC species and FIO in these surface water systems. These findings supported the potential of SRC species as a possible surrogate faecal indicator.
    [Show full text]
  • Downloaded and Searched Using
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/453514; this version posted November 17, 2019. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. 1 Title: Bacterial contribution to genesis of the novel germ line determinant oskar 2 3 Authors: Leo Blondel1, Tamsin E. M. Jones2,3 and Cassandra G. Extavour1,2* 4 5 Affiliations: 6 1. Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, 7 Cambridge MA, USA 8 2. Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity 9 Avenue, Cambridge MA, USA 10 3. Current address: European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Genome 11 Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, UK 12 13 * Correspondence to [email protected] 14 15 Abstract: New cellular functions and developmental processes can evolve by modifying 16 existing genes or creating novel genes. Novel genes can arise not only via duplication or 17 mutation but also by acquiring foreign DNA, also called horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Here 18 we show that HGT likely contributed to the creation of a novel gene indispensable for 19 reproduction in some insects. Long considered a novel gene with unknown origin, oskar has 20 evolved to fulfil a crucial role in insect germ cell formation. Our analysis of over 100 insect 21 Oskar sequences suggests that Oskar arose de novo via fusion of eukaryotic and prokaryotic 22 sequences. This work shows that highly unusual gene origin processes can give rise to novel 23 genes that can facilitate evolution of novel developmental mechanisms.
    [Show full text]
  • Clostridium Baratii Strain Responsible for an Outbreak of Botulism Type F in France
    Clinical Microbiology & Case Reports ISSN: 2369-2111 Case Report Characterization of the firstClostridium baratii strain responsible for an outbreak of botulism type F in France This article was published in the following Scient Open Access Journal: Clinical Microbiology & Case Reports Received February 23, 2015; Accepted March 06, 2015; Published March 12, 2015 Abstract Christelle Mazuet1, Jean Sautereau1, Christine Legeay1, Christiane Bouchier2, Clostridium baratii strains were isolated from stools of two patients with a severe Philippe Bouvet1, Nathalie Jourdan da botulism type F in France. The two strains exhibited the phenotypic characteristics of C. Silva3, Christine Castor4 and Michel R baratii and were toxigenic. Whole genome sequencing showed that strain 771-14 contained Popoff1* an orfX-bont/F7 locus and was highly related to C. baratii strain Sullivan. 1Institut pasteur, Bactéries anaérobies et Toxines, Paris, France, 2Institut pasteur, Plateforme Génomique, Paris, France, 3French institute of public Botulism is a rare but severe disease mainly resulting from food poisoning or health, Department of infectious disease, Saint- Maurice, France, 4French institute of public health, results in severe respiratory distress and death. Botulism is due to potent neurotoxins Department of coordination of alerts and regions, intestinal colonization. The disease is characterized by flaccid paralysis, which can Regional office in Aquitaine, Bordeaux, France Clostridium botulinum and atypical strains of Clostridium baratii and Clostridium butyricum [1-3]. Based called botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) which are produced by on their immunological properties, BoNTs are classified into 7 toxinotypes (A to G). A new type called H has been reported [4,5] which is rather considered as a mosaic BoNT/FA [6].
    [Show full text]
  • IDCM Section 3: Botulism
    BOTULISM (Foodborne, Infant, Wound) REPORTING INFORMATION • Class A (foodborne): Report immediately via telephone the case or suspected case and/or a positive laboratory result to the local public health department where the patient resides. If patient residence is unknown, report immediately via telephone to the local public health department in which the reporting health care provider or laboratory is located. Local health departments should report immediately via telephone the case or suspected case and/or a positive laboratory result to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). • Class B (infant and wound): Report by the end of the next business day after the case or suspected case presents and/or a positive laboratory result to the local public health department where the patient resides. If patient residence is unknown, report to the local public health department in which the reporting health care provider or laboratory is located. • Reporting Form(s) and/or Mechanism: o Foodborne cases: Immediately via telephone. For local health departments, cases should also be entered into the Ohio Disease Reporting System (ODRS) within 24 hours of the initial telephone call to the ODH. o Infant and Wound cases: The Ohio Disease Reporting System (ODRS) should be used to report lab findings or suspected cases to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). For healthcare providers without access to ODRS, you may use the Ohio Confidential Reportable Disease form (HEA 3334). o The Infant Botulism Interview questionnaire from the California Department of Health is useful during the investigation of a case. • Key field for ODRS reporting includes: date of illness onset.
    [Show full text]