Biology:Clostridium novyi

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Short description: Species of bacterium

Clostridium novyi
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Bacillota
Class: Clostridia
Order: Eubacteriales
Family: Lachnospiraceae
Genus: Clostridium
Species:
C. novyi
Binomial name
Clostridium novyi
(Migula 1894 [sic]) Bergey et al. 1923[1]

Clostridium novyi (oedematiens) a Gram-positive, endospore- forming, obligate anaerobic bacteria of the class Clostridia. It is ubiquitous, being found in the soil and faeces. It is pathogenic, causing a wide variety of diseases in humans and animals.

Growth in culture proceeds through 3 stages: Initial growth wherein no toxin is produced; vigorous growth wherein toxin is produced; and spore formation wherein endospores are formed and toxin production decreases. It is suggested that type C may be type B that forms spores more readily so does not go through the toxin-production stage.

Isolating and identifying C novyi is difficult due to its extreme anaerobic nature. Commercial kits may not be adequate.[2][3]

It is also fastidious and difficult to culture, requiring the presence of thiols.[4]

Taxonomy

Clostridium novyi is considered to be made up from three clades, labelled A, B and C, distinguished by the range of toxins they produce.[citation needed] While strains of type C were not linked to disease to laboratory animals, presence and activity of toxins in C. novyi have been linked to infection with Bacteriophages.[5] Based on toxin production, Clostridium haemolyticum has been suggested to be considered a part of C. novyi, forming a separate type D in the genus.[6] More recent 16S-rDNA studies however have suggested, that C. haemolyticus and types B and C of C. novyi may form a distinct species, closely related to Clostridium botulinum type C and D ("group III"), instead.[5]

Toxins

The toxins are designated by Greek letters.[7]

Toxins normally produced by the various types of C novyi[7]
C novyi type Toxins
A alpha, gamma, delta, epsilon
B alpha, beta, zeta
C gamma

The alpha-toxin of Clostridium botulinum types C and D, is similar to the C novyi beta-toxin.[citation needed] The A and B toxins of Clostridium difficile show homology with the alpha-toxin of C novyi as does the lethal toxin of clostridium sordellii.[8]

Alpha-toxin

The alpha-toxin is characterised as lethal and necrotizing.[citation needed]

The type A alpha-toxin is oedematising.[9] It acts by causing morphological changes to all cell types especially endothelial cells by inhibition of signal transduction pathways,[10] resulting in the breakdown of cytoskeletal structures.[11] The cells of the microvascular system become spherical and the attachments to neighbouring cells are reduced to thin strings. This results in leakage from the capillaries, leading to oedema. The threshold concentration for this action to occur is 5 ng/ml (5 parts per billion) with 50% of cells rounded at 50 ng/ml.

The duodenum is particularly sensitive to the toxin. Injection into dogs resulted in extreme oedema of the submucosal tissues of the duodenum while leaving the stomach uninjured. Injection into the eye resulted in lesions similar to flame haemorrhages found in diabetic retinopathy.[9]

The toxin is a large 250-kDa protein the active part of which is the NH2-terminal 551 amino acid fragment.[12] Alpha-toxins are glycosyltransferases, modifying and thereby inactivating different members of the Rho and Ras subfamily of small GTP-binding proteins.[13][14][15] C novyi type A alpha-toxin is unique in using UDP-N-acetylglucosamine rather than UDP-glucose as a substrate.[16]

Beta-toxin

The beta-toxin is characterised as haemolytic, necrotizing lecithinase.[citation needed]

Gamma-toxin

The gamma-toxin is characterised as haemolytic, lecithinase.[citation needed]

Delta-toxin

The delta-toxin is characterised as oxygen labile haemolysin.[citation needed]

Epsilon-toxin

The epsilon-toxin is characterised as lecithino-vitelin[check spelling] and thought to be responsible for the pearly layer found in cultures.

Zeta-toxin

The zeta-toxin is characterised as haemolysin.[citation needed]

Human diseases

The type and severity of the disease caused depends on penetration of the tissues. The epithelium of the alimentary tract, in general, provides an effective barrier to penetration. However, spores may escape from the gut and lodge in any part of the body and result in spontaneous infection should local anaerobic conditions occur.[citation needed]

Tissue penetration

Wound infection by C novyi and many other clostridium species cause gas gangrene[17] Spontaneous infection is mostly associated with predisposing factors of hematologic or colorectal malignancies and with diabetes mellitus,[18] although Gram-negative organisms, including Escherichia coli, may lead to a gas gangrene-like syndrome in diabetic patients. This presents with cellulitis and crepitus, and may be mistaken for gas gangrene.[19] Spontaneous, nontraumatic, or intrinsic infections from a bowel source have been increasingly reported recently.[20]

Clostridium novyi has been implicated in mortality among injecting illegal drug users.[21][22]

Epithelial infections

Symptoms are often non-specific including, colitis[citation needed], oedematous duodenitis[citation needed], and fever with somnolence[citation needed].

Testing is problematical with figures presented by McLauchlin and Brazier [cited above] suggesting a false negative rate of about 40% under ideal conditions. Only positive results may be regarded as reliable. In the absence of a positive test, C. novyi type A may be inferred from characterisation by clinical observation, table 2.

Table 2
Observation Comment
Oedema Especially if extreme with rapid onset. In view of the sensitivity of the duodenum to the alpha-toxin, oedematous duodenum is always suspect.
Anaerobic Infection occurs at an anaerobic site such as the gut or salivary gland. It may also occur at a site temporarily made anaerobic by occlusion and maintained in this state by oedema.
Gram positive If penicillin causes remission of oedema then a Gram positive organism is the causative agent.

Chronic infection leading to leaky capillaries may also cause retinal haemorrhages and oedema in the lower extremities leading to necrosis and gangrene. Leaky nephrons may compromise the ability of kidneys to concentrate urine leading to frequent urination and dehydration.[citation needed]

Animal diseases

Gas gangrene: infectious necrotic hepatitis (black disease)[23]

See also

References

  1. Parte, A.C.. "Clostridium". LPSN. https://lpsn.dsmz.de/genus/clostridium. 
  2. "Isolation and identification of Clostridium spp. from infections associated with the injection of drugs: experiences of a microbiological investigation team". Journal of Medical Microbiology 51 (11): 985–9. November 2002. doi:10.1099/0022-1317-51-11-985. PMID 12448683. 
  3. "Identification of Clostridium species". National Standard Methods. BSOP ID8 Issue 3. Health Protection Agency. July 2008. http://www.hpa-standardmethods.org.uk/documents/bsopid/pdf/bsopid8.pdf. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
  4. Moore WB (October 1968). "Solidified media suitable for the cultivation of Clostridium novyi type B". Journal of General Microbiology 53 (3): 415–23. doi:10.1099/00221287-53-3-415. PMID 5721591. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Phylogenetic positions of Clostridium novyi and Clostridium haemolyticum based on 16S rDNA sequences". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 51 (Pt 3): 901–4. May 2001. doi:10.1099/00207713-51-3-901. PMID 11411712. 
  6. "The toxins of Clostridium oedematiens (Cl. novyi)". Journal of General Microbiology 1 (1): 91–107. Jan 1947. doi:10.1099/00221287-1-1-91. PMID 20238541. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 Oakley, C. L.; Warrack, G. Harriet; Clarke, Patricia H. (1947). "The Toxins of Clostridium oedematiens (Cl. novyi)". Journal of General Microbiology 1 (1): 91–107. doi:10.1099/00221287-1-1-91. PMID 20238541. 
  8. "Sequencing and analysis of the gene encoding the alpha-toxin of Clostridium novyi proves its homology to toxins A and B of Clostridium difficile". Molecular & General Genetics 247 (6): 670–9. June 1995. doi:10.1007/BF00290398. PMID 7616958. 
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Pharmacological and biochemical studies of cytotoxicity of Clostridium novyi type A alpha-toxin". Infection and Immunity 57 (8): 2507–13. August 1989. doi:10.1128/IAI.57.8.2507-2513.1989. PMID 2744858. 
  10. "Inhibition of receptor signaling to phospholipase D by Clostridium difficile toxin B. Role of Rho proteins". The Journal of Biological Chemistry 271 (5): 2422–6. February 1996. doi:10.1074/jbc.271.5.2422. PMID 8576201. 
  11. "Morphological changes of cultured endothelial cells after microinjection of toxins that act on the cytoskeleton". Infection and Immunity 60 (7): 3007–10. July 1992. doi:10.1128/IAI.60.7.3007-3010.1992. PMID 1612768. 
  12. "Characterization of the Catalytic Domain of Clostridium novyi Alpha-Toxin". Infection and Immunity 68 (11): 6378–83. November 2000. doi:10.1128/IAI.68.11.6378-6383.2000. PMID 11035748. 
  13. "Inactivation of Ras by Clostridium sordellii lethal toxin-catalyzed glucosylation". The Journal of Biological Chemistry 271 (17): 10149–53. April 1996. doi:10.1074/jbc.271.17.10149. PMID 8626575. 
  14. "Glucosylation of Rho proteins by Clostridium difficile toxin B". Nature 375 (6531): 500–3. June 1995. doi:10.1038/375500a0. PMID 7777059. Bibcode1995Natur.375..500J. 
  15. "The enterotoxin from Clostridium difficile (ToxA) monoglucosylates the Rho proteins". The Journal of Biological Chemistry 270 (23): 13932–6. June 1995. doi:10.1074/jbc.270.23.13932. PMID 7775453. 
  16. "Clostridium novyi alpha-toxin-catalyzed incorporation of GlcNAc into Rho subfamily proteins". The Journal of Biological Chemistry 271 (41): 25173–7. October 1996. doi:10.1074/jbc.271.41.25173. PMID 8810274. 
  17. Hatheway CL (January 1990). "Toxigenic clostridia". Clinical Microbiology Reviews 3 (1): 66–98. doi:10.1128/CMR.3.1.66. PMID 2404569. 
  18. "Human Fulminant Gas Gangrene Caused by Clostridium chauvoei". Journal of Clinical Microbiology 46 (4): 1545–7. April 2008. doi:10.1128/JCM.01895-07. PMID 18256217. 
  19. "Necrotising infections". The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. http://www.bsac.org.uk/pyxis/Skin%20and%20soft%20tissue%20infections/Necrotising%20infections/Necrotising%20infectionsF.htm. 
  20. "Clostridium septicum infection and associated malignancy. Report of 2 cases and review of the literature". Medicine 68 (1): 30–7. January 1989. doi:10.1097/00005792-198901000-00002. PMID 2642585. 
  21. "Autopsy findings in an outbreak of severe systemic illness in heroin users following injection site inflammation: an effect of Clostridium novyi exotoxin?". Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine 127 (11): 1465–70. November 2003. doi:10.5858/2003-127-1465-AFIAOO. PMID 14567722. https://meridian.allenpress.com/aplm/article/127/11/1465/62832/Autopsy-Findings-in-an-Outbreak-of-Severe-Systemic. Retrieved 2020-11-29. 
  22. "Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis of Clostridium novyi, C. perfringens and Bacillus cereus isolated from injecting drug users during 2000". Journal of Medical Microbiology 51 (11): 990–1000. November 2002. doi:10.1099/0022-1317-51-11-990. PMID 12448684. 
  23. Kahn, Cynthia M., ed (2005). "Infectious Necrotic Hepatitis (Black disease)". The Merck Veterinary Manual (9th ed.). Whitehouse Station, New Jersey: Merck & Co.. ISBN 978-0-911910-50-6. OCLC 57355058. http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/22808.htm. 

Further reading

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q3681074 entry