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Camargo A, Ramírez JD, Kiu R, Hall LJ, Muñoz M. Unveiling the pathogenic mechanisms of Clostridium perfringens toxins and virulence factors. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2341968. [PMID: 38590276 PMCID: PMC11057404 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2341968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens causes multiple diseases in humans and animals. Its pathogenic effect is supported by a broad and heterogeneous arsenal of toxins and other virulence factors associated with a specific host tropism. Molecular approaches have indicated that most C. perfringens toxins produce membrane pores, leading to osmotic cell disruption and apoptosis. However, identifying mechanisms involved in cell tropism and selective toxicity effects should be studied more. The differential presence and polymorphisms of toxin-encoding genes and genes encoding other virulence factors suggest that molecular mechanisms might exist associated with host preference, receptor binding, and impact on the host; however, this information has not been reviewed in detail. Therefore, this review aims to clarify the current state of knowledge on the structural features and mechanisms of action of the major toxins and virulence factors of C. perfringens and discuss the impact of genetic diversity of toxinotypes in tropism for several hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anny Camargo
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
- Health Sciences Faculty, Universidad de Boyacá, Tunja, Colombia
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Raymond Kiu
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Gut Microbes and Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Lindsay J. Hall
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Gut Microbes and Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Marina Muñoz
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
- Instituto de Biotecnología-UN (IBUN), Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
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2
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Hussain H, Fadel A, Garcia E, Hernandez RJ, Saadoon ZF, Naseer L, Casmartino E, Hamad M, Schnepp T, Sarfraz R, Angly S, Jayakumar AR. Clostridial Myonecrosis: A Comprehensive Review of Toxin Pathophysiology and Management Strategies. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1464. [PMID: 39065232 PMCID: PMC11278868 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12071464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2024] [Revised: 07/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Clostridial myonecrosis, commonly known as gas gangrene (GG), is a rapidly progressing and potentially fatal bacterial infection that primarily affects muscle and soft tissue. In the United States, the incidence of GG is roughly 1000 cases per year, while, in developing countries, the incidence is higher. This condition is most often caused by Clostridium perfringens, a Gram-positive, spore-forming anaerobic bacterium widely distributed in the environment, although other Clostridium species have also been reported to cause GG. The CP genome contains over 200 transport-related genes, including ABC transporters, which facilitate the uptake of sugars, amino acids, nucleotides, and ions from the host environment. There are two main subtypes of GG: traumatic GG, resulting from injuries that introduce Clostridium spores into deep tissue, where anaerobic conditions allow for bacterial growth and toxin production, and spontaneous GG, which is rarer and often occurs in immunocompromised patients. Clostridium species produce various toxins (e.g., alpha, theta, beta) that induce specific downstream signaling changes in cellular pathways, causing apoptosis or severe, fatal immunological conditions. For example, the Clostridium perfringens alpha toxin (CPA) targets the host cell's plasma membrane, hydrolyzing sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine, which triggers necrosis and apoptosis. The clinical manifestations of clostridial myonecrosis vary. Some patients experience the sudden onset of severe pain, swelling, and muscle tenderness, with the infection progressing rapidly to widespread tissue necrosis, systemic toxicity, and, if untreated, death. Other patients present with discharge, pain, and features of cellulitis. The diagnosis of GG primarily involves clinical evaluation, imaging studies such as X-rays, computer tomography (CT) scans, and culture. The treatment of GG involves surgical exploration, broad-spectrum antibiotics, antitoxin, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which is considered an adjunctive treatment to inhibit anaerobic bacterial growth and enhance the antibiotic efficacy. Early recognition and prompt, comprehensive treatment are critical to improving the outcomes for patients affected by this severe and life-threatening condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussain Hussain
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kendall Hospital-HCA Florida Healthcare, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Larkin Community Hospital, Miami, FL 33143, USA; (E.G.); (Z.F.S.); (L.N.); (E.C.); (M.H.); (T.S.); (R.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Aya Fadel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ocean University Medical Center—Hackensack Meridian Health, Brick, NJ 08724, USA;
| | - Efrain Garcia
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Larkin Community Hospital, Miami, FL 33143, USA; (E.G.); (Z.F.S.); (L.N.); (E.C.); (M.H.); (T.S.); (R.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Robert J. Hernandez
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kendall Hospital-HCA Florida Healthcare, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Larkin Community Hospital, Miami, FL 33143, USA; (E.G.); (Z.F.S.); (L.N.); (E.C.); (M.H.); (T.S.); (R.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Zahraa F. Saadoon
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Larkin Community Hospital, Miami, FL 33143, USA; (E.G.); (Z.F.S.); (L.N.); (E.C.); (M.H.); (T.S.); (R.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Lamia Naseer
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Larkin Community Hospital, Miami, FL 33143, USA; (E.G.); (Z.F.S.); (L.N.); (E.C.); (M.H.); (T.S.); (R.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Ekaterina Casmartino
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Larkin Community Hospital, Miami, FL 33143, USA; (E.G.); (Z.F.S.); (L.N.); (E.C.); (M.H.); (T.S.); (R.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Mohammad Hamad
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Larkin Community Hospital, Miami, FL 33143, USA; (E.G.); (Z.F.S.); (L.N.); (E.C.); (M.H.); (T.S.); (R.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Taylor Schnepp
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Larkin Community Hospital, Miami, FL 33143, USA; (E.G.); (Z.F.S.); (L.N.); (E.C.); (M.H.); (T.S.); (R.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Rehan Sarfraz
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Larkin Community Hospital, Miami, FL 33143, USA; (E.G.); (Z.F.S.); (L.N.); (E.C.); (M.H.); (T.S.); (R.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Sohair Angly
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Larkin Community Hospital, Miami, FL 33143, USA; (E.G.); (Z.F.S.); (L.N.); (E.C.); (M.H.); (T.S.); (R.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Arumugam R. Jayakumar
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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3
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Feng H, Wu K, Yuan Y, Fang M, Wang J, Li R, Zhang R, Wang X, Ye D, Yang Z. Genomic analysis of Clostridium perfringens type D isolates from goat farms. Vet Microbiol 2024; 294:110105. [PMID: 38729094 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2024.110105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
C. perfringens type D strains are the leading cause of enterotoxaemia in ruminants such as goats, sheep, and cattle. However, there has been no prior research on the genomic characteristics of C. perfringens type D strains from various regions in China. Here, we investigated the antibiotic resistance, genomic characteristics, and phylogenetic relationship of C. perfringens type D isolates recovered from goat farms in Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia provinces. The antibiotic resistance test indicated that the isolates displayed high minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values to sulfafurazole, whereas the other antibiotics tested, such as penicillin, enrofloxacin, and florfenicol, worked well on them. Additionally, only tetracycline resistance genes [tetA(P) and tetB(P)] were identified from the isolates. A collective of 13 toxin genes, including etx and cpe were detected among the isolates. Sequence comparison revealed that the etx and cpe genes shared high sequence identities, and they could coexist on a pCW3-like plasmid, representing a potential risk to both animal breeding and public health. Phylogenetic analysis using core genome multi-locus sequence typing (cgMLST) and core genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) revealed the close genetic relationship and potential regional/transregional transmission of the C. perfringens type D isolates in Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. Furthermore, pan-genomic analysis suggested the functional differences at the protein-coding gene level, although isolates from the same source shared a close genetic relationship. In conclusion, this study indicated the antibiotic resistance, virulence markers, potential transregional transmission, and genomic diversity of C. perfringens type D strains from various regions in China, which could provide references for the prevention of C. perfringens foodborne diseases and further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Feng
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China; Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Major Ruminant Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, China
| | - Ke Wu
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Mingjin Fang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Juan Wang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China; Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Major Ruminant Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, China; Research Unit of Food Safety, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU014); NHC Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA), Beijing, China.
| | - Ruichao Li
- Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang, University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinglong Wang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China; Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Major Ruminant Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, China
| | - Dongyang Ye
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China; Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Major Ruminant Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, China.
| | - Zengqi Yang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China; Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Major Ruminant Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, China.
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Shrestha A, Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Li J, Navarro M, Uzal FA, McClane BA. The biology and pathogenicity of Clostridium perfringens type F: a common human enteropathogen with a new(ish) name. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024:e0014023. [PMID: 38864615 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00140-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYIn the 2018-revised Clostridium perfringens typing classification system, isolates carrying the enterotoxin (cpe) and alpha toxin genes but no other typing toxin genes are now designated as type F. Type F isolates cause food poisoning and nonfoodborne human gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, which most commonly involve type F isolates carrying, respectivefooly, a chromosomal or plasmid-borne cpe gene. Compared to spores of other C. perfringens isolates, spores of type F chromosomal cpe isolates often exhibit greater resistance to food environment stresses, likely facilitating their survival in improperly prepared or stored foods. Multiple factors contribute to this spore resistance phenotype, including the production of a variant small acid-soluble protein-4. The pathogenicity of type F isolates involves sporulation-dependent C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) production. C. perfringens sporulation is initiated by orphan histidine kinases and sporulation-associated sigma factors that drive cpe transcription. CPE-induced cytotoxicity starts when CPE binds to claudin receptors to form a small complex (which also includes nonreceptor claudins). Approximately six small complexes oligomerize on the host cell plasma membrane surface to form a prepore. CPE molecules in that prepore apparently extend β-hairpin loops to form a β-barrel pore, allowing a Ca2+ influx that activates calpain. With low-dose CPE treatment, caspase-3-dependent apoptosis develops, while high-CPE dose treatment induces necroptosis. Those effects cause histologic damage along with fluid and electrolyte losses from the colon and small intestine. Sialidases likely contribute to type F disease by enhancing CPE action and, for NanI-producing nonfoodborne human GI disease isolates, increasing intestinal growth and colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Shrestha
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Iman Mehdizadeh Gohari
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jihong Li
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mauricio Navarro
- Instituto de Patologia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Francisco A Uzal
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, San Bernardino, California, USA
| | - Bruce A McClane
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Wu K, Li Z, Fang M, Yuan Y, Fox EM, Liu Y, Li R, Bai L, Zhang W, Zhang WM, Yang Q, Chang L, Li P, Wang X, Wang J, Yang Z. Genome characteristics of the optrA-positive Clostridium perfringens strain QHY-2 carrying a novel plasmid type. mSystems 2023; 8:e0053523. [PMID: 37458450 PMCID: PMC10469678 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00535-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens is a bacterial species of importance to both public and animal health. The gene optrA is the first gene that confers resistance to the tedizolid, a last-resort antimicrobial agent in human medicine. Herein, we whole-genome sequenced and analyzed one optrA-positive C. perfringens strain QHY-2 from Tibetan sheep in Qinghai province and identified one optrA plasmid pQHY-2. The plasmid shared similar structure with the optrA-positive plasmids p2C45 and p21-D-5b previously identified in C. perfringens, demonstrating the potential horizontal transmission of the optrA plasmids among C. perfringens strains. Annotation of the optrA-positive plasmids showed optrA and erm(A) located on a segment flanked by IS element IS1216E, and fexA, optrA, and erm(A) located on a segment flanked by IS element ISVlu1, which revealed the possible dissemination mechanism. Additionally, a Tn6218-like transposon carrying aac(6')-aph(2″) and erm(B) was also detected on pQHY-2, demonstrating the transposition of Tn6218 and spread of antibiotic resistance among Clostridium bacteria. Molecular analysis indicated the optrA-positive plasmids belonged to a plasmid type distinct from the pCW3-like plasmids, pCP13-like plasmids, or pIP404-like plasmids. Further structure analysis showed they might be formed by inserting segments into plasmid pCPCPI53k-r1_1, which coexist with two pCW3-like plasmids and one pCP13-like plasmid in C. perfringens strain CPI 53k-r1 isolated from a healthy human in Finland. IMPORTANCE Antimicrobial resistance is now a global concern posing threats to food safety and public health. The pCW3-like plasmids can encode several main toxin genes and three antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), including tetA(P), tetB(P), and erm(B), which used to be considered as the main carrier of ARGs in Clostridium perfringens. In this study, we found the optrA plasmids, which belonged to a novel plasmid type, could also harbor many other ARGs, indicating this type of plasmid might be the potential repository of ARGs in C. perfringens. Additionally, this type of plasmid could coexist with the pCW3-like plasmids and pCP13-like plasmids that encoded toxin genes associated with gastrointestinal diseases, which showed the potential threat to public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Wu
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Major Ruminant Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, China
| | - Zhe Li
- Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Junan, China
| | - Mingjin Fang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Major Ruminant Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, China
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Major Ruminant Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, China
| | - Edward M. Fox
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Yingqiu Liu
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Ruichao Li
- Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Li Bai
- Research Unit of Food Safety, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU014); NHC Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA), Beijing, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Ningxia Supervision Institute for Veterinary Drugs and Animal Feedstuffs, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Wei-Min Zhang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Qi Yang
- Ningxia Supervision Institute for Veterinary Drugs and Animal Feedstuffs, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Lingling Chang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Pu Li
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xinglong Wang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Major Ruminant Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, China
| | - Juan Wang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Major Ruminant Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, China
- Research Unit of Food Safety, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU014); NHC Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA), Beijing, China
| | - Zengqi Yang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Major Ruminant Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, China
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Kiu R, Shaw AG, Sim K, Acuna-Gonzalez A, Price CA, Bedwell H, Dreger SA, Fowler WJ, Cornwell E, Pickard D, Belteki G, Malsom J, Phillips S, Young GR, Schofield Z, Alcon-Giner C, Berrington JE, Stewart CJ, Dougan G, Clarke P, Douce G, Robinson SD, Kroll JS, Hall LJ. Particular genomic and virulence traits associated with preterm infant-derived toxigenic Clostridium perfringens strains. Nat Microbiol 2023; 8:1160-1175. [PMID: 37231089 PMCID: PMC10234813 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01385-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens is an anaerobic toxin-producing bacterium associated with intestinal diseases, particularly in neonatal humans and animals. Infant gut microbiome studies have recently indicated a link between C. perfringens and the preterm infant disease necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), with specific NEC cases associated with overabundant C. perfringens termed C. perfringens-associated NEC (CPA-NEC). In the present study, we carried out whole-genome sequencing of 272 C. perfringens isolates from 70 infants across 5 hospitals in the United Kingdom. In this retrospective analysis, we performed in-depth genomic analyses (virulence profiling, strain tracking and plasmid analysis) and experimentally characterized pathogenic traits of 31 strains, including 4 from CPA-NEC patients. We found that the gene encoding toxin perfringolysin O, pfoA, was largely deficient in a human-derived hypovirulent lineage, as well as certain colonization factors, in contrast to typical pfoA-encoding virulent lineages. We determined that infant-associated pfoA+ strains caused significantly more cellular damage than pfoA- strains in vitro, and further confirmed this virulence trait in vivo using an oral-challenge C57BL/6 murine model. These findings suggest both the importance of pfoA+ C. perfringens as a gut pathogen in preterm infants and areas for further investigation, including potential intervention and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond Kiu
- Gut Microbes and Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, UK
| | | | - Kathleen Sim
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Harley Bedwell
- Gut Microbes and Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, UK
| | - Sally A Dreger
- Gut Microbes and Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, UK
| | - Wesley J Fowler
- Gut Microbes and Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, UK
| | - Emma Cornwell
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Derek Pickard
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gusztav Belteki
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, The Rosie Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jennifer Malsom
- Gut Microbes and Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, UK
| | - Sarah Phillips
- Gut Microbes and Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, UK
| | - Gregory R Young
- Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Zoe Schofield
- Gut Microbes and Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, UK
| | | | - Janet E Berrington
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Newcastle Neonatal Services, Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Christopher J Stewart
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Newcastle Neonatal Services, Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Gordon Dougan
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Paul Clarke
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Gillian Douce
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Stephen D Robinson
- Gut Microbes and Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - J Simon Kroll
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Lindsay J Hall
- Gut Microbes and Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, UK.
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
- Intestinal Microbiome, School of Life Sciences, ZIEL-Institute for Food & Health, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.
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7
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Traore DAK, Torres VVL, Akhtar N, Gummer AM, Flanigan SF, Coulibaly F, Adams V, Whisstock JC, Rood JI. TcpA from the Clostridiumperfringens plasmid pCW3 is more closely related to the DNA translocase FtsK than to coupling proteins. Structure 2023; 31:455-463.e4. [PMID: 36841236 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Conjugative DNA transfer is a major factor in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. In the Gram-positive pathogen Clostridium perfringens, the majority of conjugative plasmids share the conserved tcp locus that governs the assembly of the transfer system. Here, we describe multiple structures of the coupling protein TcpA, an essential ATPase that is suggested to provide the mechanical force to propel the DNA through the transfer apparatus. The structures of TcpA in the presence and absence of nucleotides revealed conformational rearrangements and highlight a crucial role for the unstructured C terminus. Our findings reveal that TcpA shares most structural similarity with the FtsK DNA translocase, a central component of the bacterial cell division machinery. Our structural data suggest that conjugation in C. perfringens may have evolved from the bacterial chromosome segregation system and, accordingly, suggest the possibility that double-stranded DNA is transferred through the Tcp conjugation apparatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daouda A K Traore
- Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université des Sciences Techniques et Technologiques de Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali; Faculty of Natural Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK; Life Sciences Group, Institut Laue Langevin, Grenoble, France.
| | - Von Vergel L Torres
- Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Naureen Akhtar
- Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Alexandra M Gummer
- Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Sarena F Flanigan
- Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Fasséli Coulibaly
- Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Vicki Adams
- Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - James C Whisstock
- Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Julian I Rood
- Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
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Tohya M, Otsuka T, Yoshimoto J, Ishizaki Y, Kirikae T, Watanabe S. Case report: Whole genome sequence of Clostridium perfringens JUM001 causing acute emphysematous cholecystitis. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1066880. [DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1066880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A strain of Clostridium perfringens was isolated from the bile sample of a patient with emphysematous cholecystitis who underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, followed by treatment with meropenem and recovery. Metagenomic analysis of the bile sample showed that 99.73% of the bile microbiota consisted of C. perfringens, indicating that C. perfringens JUM001 was the causative pathogen of acute emphysematous cholecystitis in this patient. Complete genome sequencing showed that C. perfringens JUM001 contained a circular chromosome of 3,231,023 bp and two circular plasmids, pJUM001-1 of 49,289 bp and pJUM001-2 of 47,855 bp. JUM001 was found to possess a typing toxin gene, plc, but no other typing toxin genes, indicating that its toxinotype is type A. The plasmids pJUM001-1 and pJUM001-2 belonged to the pCP13-like and pCW3-like families of plasmids, respectively, which are characteristic conjugative and archetypical plasmids of C. perfringens. Phylogenetic analysis showed that JUM001 was closely related to C. perfringens strain JXNC-DD isolated from a dog in China. To our knowledge, this is the first report of whole-genome sequences of a clinical isolate of C. perfringens causing acute emphysematous cholecystitis.
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Santos RAND, Abdel-Nour J, McAuley C, Moore SC, Fegan N, Fox EM. Clostridium perfringens associated with dairy farm systems show diverse genotypes. Int J Food Microbiol 2022; 382:109933. [PMID: 36166891 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2022.109933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens is a bacterial species of importance to both public and animal health. Frequently found in food system environments, it presents a risk to food animal health such as dairy herds, and may cross contaminate associated ingredients or food products, with potential to cause sporadic and outbreaks of disease in human populations, including gastroenteric illness. In this study, we characterized C. perfringens isolated from bovine, caprine, and ovine dairy farm systems (n = 8, 11 and 4, respectively). Isolates were phenotypically screened for antimicrobial sensitivity profiling, and subjected to whole genome sequencing to elucidate related genetic markers, as well as examine virulence gene markers, mobile genetic elements, and other features. Both toxin type A and type D isolates were identified (78 % and 22 % of isolates, respectively), including 20 novel sequence types. Resistance to clindamycin was most prevalent among antibiotics screened (30 %), followed by erythromycin (13 %), then penicillin and tetracycline (4 %), although an additional 3 isolates were non-susceptible to tetracycline. Most isolates harboured plasmids, which mobilised virulence markers such as etx, cpb2, and resistance markers tetA(P), tetB(P), and erm(Q), on conjugative plasmids. The presence of type D isolates on caprine farms emphasizes the need for control efforts to prevent infection and potential enterotoxemia. Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (cpe) was not identified, suggesting lower risk of gastrointestinal illness from contaminated foods, the presence of other virulence and antimicrobial resistance markers suggests farm hygiene remains an important consideration to help ensure food safety of associated dairy foods produced.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Cathy McAuley
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia
| | - Sean C Moore
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Cooper Plains, QLD 4108, Australia
| | - Narelle Fegan
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Cooper Plains, QLD 4108, Australia
| | - Edward M Fox
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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10
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Ueda K, Kawahara K, Kimoto N, Yamaguchi Y, Yamada K, Oki H, Yoshida T, Matsuda S, Matsumoto Y, Motooka D, Kawatsu K, Iida T, Nakamura S, Ohkubo T, Yonogi S. Analysis of the complete genome sequences of Clostridium perfringens strains harbouring the binary enterotoxin BEC gene and comparative genomics of pCP13-like family plasmids. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:226. [PMID: 35321661 PMCID: PMC8941779 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08453-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background BEC-producing Clostridium perfringens is a causative agent of foodborne gastroenteritis. It was first reported in 2014, and since then, several isolates have been identified in Japan and the United Kingdom. The novel binary ADP-ribosylating toxin BEC, which consists of two components (BECa and BECb), is encoded on a plasmid that is similar to pCP13 and harbours a conjugation locus, called Pcp, encoding homologous proteins of the type 4 secretion system. Despite the high in vitro conjugation frequency of pCP13, its dissemination and that of related plasmids, including bec-harbouring plasmids, in the natural environment have not been characterised. This lack of knowledge has limited our understanding of the genomic epidemiology of bec-harbouring C. perfringens strains. Results In this study, we determined the complete genome sequences of five bec-harbouring C. perfringens strains isolated from 2009 to 2019. Each isolate contains a ~ 3.36 Mbp chromosome and 1–3 plasmids of either the pCW3-like family, pCP13-like family, or an unknown family, and the bec-encoding region in all five isolates was located on a ~ 54 kbp pCP13-like plasmid. Phylogenetic and SNP analyses of these complete genome sequences and the 211 assembled C. perfringens genomes in GenBank showed that although these bec-harbouring strains were split into two phylogenetic clades, the sequences of the bec-encoding plasmids were nearly identical (>99.81%), with a significantly smaller SNP accumulation rate than that of their chromosomes. Given that the Pcp locus is conserved in these pCP13-like plasmids, we propose a mechanism in which the plasmids were disseminated by horizontal gene transfer. Data mining showed that strains carrying pCP13-like family plasmids were unexpectedly common (58/216 strains) and widely disseminated among the various C. perfringens clades. Although these plasmids possess a conserved Pcp locus, their ‘accessory regions’ can accommodate a wide variety of genes, including virulence-associated genes, such as becA/becB and cbp2. These results suggest that this family of plasmids can integrate various foreign genes and is transmissible among C. perfringens strains. Conclusion This study demonstrates the potential significance of pCP13-like plasmids, including bec-encoding plasmids, for the characterisation and monitoring of the dissemination of pathogenic C. perfringens strains. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08453-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kengo Ueda
- Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kazuki Kawahara
- Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Narumi Kimoto
- Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yusuke Yamaguchi
- Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Yamada
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, Aichi Prefectural Institute of Public Health, 7-6 Nagare, Tsujicho, Kita-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 462-8576, Japan
| | - Hiroya Oki
- Department of Infection Metagenomics, Genome Information Research Center, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases (RIMD), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Takuya Yoshida
- Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Shigeaki Matsuda
- Department of Bacterial Infection, Research Institute for Microbial Disease (RIMD), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yuki Matsumoto
- Department of Infection Metagenomics, Genome Information Research Center, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases (RIMD), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Daisuke Motooka
- Department of Infection Metagenomics, Genome Information Research Center, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases (RIMD), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kentaro Kawatsu
- Division of Microbiology, Osaka Institute of Public Health, 1-3-69 Nakamichi, Higashinari-ku, Osaka, Osaka, 537-0025, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Iida
- Department of Bacterial Infection, Research Institute for Microbial Disease (RIMD), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Shota Nakamura
- Department of Infection Metagenomics, Genome Information Research Center, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases (RIMD), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tadayasu Ohkubo
- Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
| | - Shinya Yonogi
- Department of Bacterial Infection, Research Institute for Microbial Disease (RIMD), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan. .,Division of Microbiology, Osaka Institute of Public Health, 1-3-69 Nakamichi, Higashinari-ku, Osaka, Osaka, 537-0025, Japan.
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11
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Mehdizadeh Gohari I, A. Navarro M, Li J, Shrestha A, Uzal F, A. McClane B. Pathogenicity and virulence of Clostridium perfringens. Virulence 2021; 12:723-753. [PMID: 33843463 PMCID: PMC8043184 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.1886777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens is an extremely versatile pathogen of humans and livestock, causing wound infections like gas gangrene (clostridial myonecrosis), enteritis/enterocolitis (including one of the most common human food-borne illnesses), and enterotoxemia (where toxins produced in the intestine are absorbed and damage distant organs such as the brain). The virulence of this Gram-positive, spore-forming, anaerobe is largely attributable to its copious toxin production; the diverse actions and roles in infection of these toxins are now becoming established. Most C. perfringens toxin genes are encoded on conjugative plasmids, including the pCW3-like and the recently discovered pCP13-like plasmid families. Production of C. perfringens toxins is highly regulated via processes involving two-component regulatory systems, quorum sensing and/or sporulation-related alternative sigma factors. Non-toxin factors, such as degradative enzymes like sialidases, are also now being implicated in the pathogenicity of this bacterium. These factors can promote toxin action in vitro and, perhaps in vivo, and also enhance C. perfringens intestinal colonization, e.g. NanI sialidase increases C. perfringens adherence to intestinal tissue and generates nutrients for its growth, at least in vitro. The possible virulence contributions of many other factors, such as adhesins, the capsule and biofilms, largely await future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iman Mehdizadeh Gohari
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mauricio A. Navarro
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, San Bernardino, CA, USA
| | - Jihong Li
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Archana Shrestha
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Francisco Uzal
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, San Bernardino, CA, USA
| | - Bruce A. McClane
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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12
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Complete genomic sequence and analysis of β2 toxin gene mapping of Clostridium perfringens JXJA17 isolated from piglets in China. Sci Rep 2021; 11:475. [PMID: 33436645 PMCID: PMC7804025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79333-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens (Cp) is a ubiquitous opportunistic pathogen of humans and animals in the natural environment and animal intestines. The pathogenicity of Cp depends on the production of toxins encoded by genes on the chromosomes or plasmids. In contemporary literature, there is no clear consensus about the pathogenicity of CpA β2 toxin. To analyze the homology of the genome of piglet source CpA and its β2 toxin, we sequenced the whole genome of strain JXJA17 isolated from diarrhea piglets using the Illumina Miseq and Pacbio Sequel platforms. The genome was composed of a circular chromosome with 3,324,072 bp (G + C content: 28.51%) and nine plasmids. Genome and 16S rDNA homology analysis revealed a close relation of the JXJA17 strain with the JGS1495, Cp-06, Cp-16, and FORC_003 strains. These strains were isolated from different samples and belonged to different toxin-types. JXJA17 strain was found to carry two toxin genes (plc and cpb2). In contrast to other Cp strains, the cpb2 of JXJA17 was located on a large plasmid (58 kb) with no co-localization of other toxin genes or antibiotic resistance genes. Analysis of JXJA17 genome homology and its cpb2 would facilitate our further study the relationship between β2 toxin and piglet diarrhea.
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13
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Revitt-Mills SA, Watts TD, Lyras D, Adams V, Rood JI. The ever-expanding tcp conjugation locus of pCW3 from Clostridium perfringens. Plasmid 2020; 113:102516. [PMID: 32526229 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2020.102516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The spore-forming, anaerobic Gram positive pathogen Clostridium perfringens encodes many of its disease-causing toxins on closely related conjugative plasmids. Studies of the tetracycline resistance plasmid pCW3 have identified many of the genes involved in conjugative transfer, which are located in the tcp conjugation locus. Upstream of this locus is an uncharacterised region (the cnaC region) that is highly conserved. This study examined the importance in pCW3 conjugation of several highly conserved proteins encoded in the cnaC region. Conjugative mating studies suggested that the SrtD, TcpN and Dam proteins were required for efficient pCW3 transfer between C. perfringens cells from the same strain background. The requirement of these proteins for conjugation was amplified in matings between C. perfringens cells of different strain backgrounds. Additionally, the putative collagen adhesin protein, CnaC, was only required for the optimal transfer of pCW3 between cells of different strain backgrounds. Based on these studies we postulate that CnaC, SrtD, TcpN and Dam are involved in enhancing the transfer frequency of pCW3. These studies have led to a significant expansion of the tcp conjugation locus, which now encompasses a 19 kb region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Revitt-Mills
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | - Thomas D Watts
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Dena Lyras
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Vicki Adams
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Julian I Rood
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
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14
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Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Unterer S, Whitehead AE, Prescott JF. NetF-producing Clostridium perfringens and its associated diseases in dogs and foals. J Vet Diagn Invest 2020; 32:230-238. [PMID: 32081091 PMCID: PMC7081511 DOI: 10.1177/1040638720904714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of type A Clostridium perfringens in canine acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome and foal necrotizing enteritis is poorly characterized. However, a highly significant association between the presence of novel toxigenic C. perfringens and these specific enteric diseases has been described. These novel toxigenic strains produce 3 novel putative toxins, which have been designated NetE, NetF, and NetG. Although not conclusively demonstrated, current evidence suggests that NetF is likely the major virulence factor in strains responsible for canine acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome and foal necrotizing enteritis. NetF is a beta-pore-forming toxin that belongs to the same toxin superfamily as CPB and NetB toxins produced by C. perfringens. The netF gene is encoded on a conjugative plasmid that, in the case of netF, also carries another putative toxin gene, netE. In addition, these strains consistently also carry a cpe tcp-conjugative plasmid, and a proportion also carry a separate netG tcp-conjugative plasmid. The netF and netG genes form part of a locus with all the features of the pathogenicity loci of tcp-conjugative plasmids. The netF-positive isolates are clonal in origin and fall into 2 clades. Disease in dogs or foals can be associated with either clade. Thus, these are strains with unique virulence-associated characteristics associated with serious and sometimes fatal cases of important enteric diseases in 2 animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iman Mehdizadeh Gohari
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (Mehdizadeh Gohari)
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Clinic of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany (Unterer)
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Whitehead)
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Prescott)
| | - Stefan Unterer
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (Mehdizadeh Gohari)
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Clinic of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany (Unterer)
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Whitehead)
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Prescott)
| | - Ashley E Whitehead
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (Mehdizadeh Gohari)
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Clinic of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany (Unterer)
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Whitehead)
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Prescott)
| | - John F Prescott
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (Mehdizadeh Gohari)
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Clinic of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany (Unterer)
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Whitehead)
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Prescott)
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15
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The Tcp plasmids of Clostridium perfringens require the resP gene to ensure stable inheritance. Plasmid 2020; 107:102461. [DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2019.102461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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16
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Kiu R, Brown J, Bedwell H, Leclaire C, Caim S, Pickard D, Dougan G, Dixon RA, Hall LJ. Genomic analysis on broiler-associated Clostridium perfringens strains and exploratory caecal microbiome investigation reveals key factors linked to poultry necrotic enteritis. Anim Microbiome 2019; 1:12. [PMID: 32021965 PMCID: PMC7000242 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-019-0015-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Clostridium perfringens is a key pathogen in poultry-associated necrotic enteritis (NE). To date there are limited Whole Genome Sequencing based studies describing broiler-associated C. perfringens in healthy and diseased birds. Moreover, changes in the caecal microbiome during NE is currently not well characterised. Thus, the aim of this present study was to investigate C. perfringens virulence factors linked to health and diseased chickens, including identifying putative caecal microbiota signatures associated with NE. Results We analysed 88 broiler chicken C. perfringens genomes (representing 66 publicly available genomes and 22 newly sequenced genomes) using different phylogenomics approaches and identified a potential hypervirulent and globally-distributed clone spanning 20-year time-frame (1993-2013). These isolates harbored a greater number of virulence genes (including toxin and collagen adhesin genes) when compared to other isolates. Further genomic analysis indicated exclusive and overabundant presence of important NE-linked toxin genes including netB and tpeL in NE-associated broiler isolates. Secondary virulence genes including pfoA, cpb2, and collagen adhesin genes cna, cnaA and cnaD were also enriched in the NE-linked C. perfringens genomes. Moreover, an environmental isolate obtained from farm animal feeds was found to encode netB, suggesting potential reservoirs of NetB-positive C. perfringens strains (toxinotype G). We also analysed caecal samples from a small sub-set of 11 diseased and healthy broilers for exploratory microbiome investigation using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, which indicated a significant and positive correlation in genus Clostridium within the wider microbiota of those broilers diagnosed with NE, alongside reductions in beneficial microbiota members. Conclusions These data indicate a positive association of virulence genes including netB, pfoA, cpb2, tpeL and cna variants linked to NE-linked isolates. Potential global dissemination of specific hypervirulent lineage, coupled with distinctive microbiome profiles, highlights the need for further investigations, which will require a large worldwide sample collection from healthy and NE-associated birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond Kiu
- Gut Microbes and Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, UK
| | | | - Harley Bedwell
- Gut Microbes and Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, UK
| | | | - Shabhonam Caim
- Gut Microbes and Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, UK
| | - Derek Pickard
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gordon Dougan
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Lindsay J Hall
- Gut Microbes and Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, UK.
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