Phylogeny and taxonomy of the food-borne pathogen Clostridium botulinum and its neurotoxins
Abstract
Until recently, all clostridia producing neurotoxins able to cause paralysis symptomatic of botulism were deemed to be Clostridium botulinum. Defining Cl. botulinum on the basis of this single phenotypic trait has resulted in the species encompassing metabolically very diverse organisms, and four distinct phenotypic groups are recognized within this taxon (designated groups I-IV). Nucleic acid hybridization and 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing studies have revealed the presence of four phylogenetically distinct lineages within the species, which correlate with these phenotypic divisions. In addition to marked phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity between groups, the taxonomy of the species is further complicated by the existence of strains which are closely related, if not genetically identifiable, to members of each Cl. botulinum group, but are non-toxigenic. Furthermore, strains of species other than Cl. botulinum (viz. Cl. baratii, Cl. butyricum) have been found which express botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT). Great advances have been made in recent years in elucidating the nucleotide sequences of genes encoding the various BoNT antigenic types (A through to G). Genealogical trees derived from BoNTs show marked discordance with those...Continue Reading
Citations
Independent evolution of neurotoxin and flagellar genetic loci in proteolytic Clostridium botulinum.
Detection and differentiation of Clostridium botulinum type A strains using a focused DNA microarray
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Botulism (ASM)
Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. Discover the latest research on botulism here.
Botulism
Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. Discover the latest research on botulism here.