Plasmids and virulence in animal disease isolates of type A Clostridium perfringens

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

There are a number of very important but not-well-characterized intestinal diseases of different animal species associated with the bacterium Clostridium perfringens, which are responsible for serious and often fatal illness. These range from commonly fatal diseases such as haemorrhagic abomasitis of cattle and typhlocolitis of horses, to less severe diseases such as neonatal enteritis of swine. The lack of characterization of these diseases rests on the uncertainty about the role of C. perfringens, and therefore uncertainties about diagnosis and control. It also leads to non-targeted use of antibiotics and thus potentially enhances antibiotic resistance. A key to the diversity and evolution of C. perfringens as a cause of serious intestinal disease is the unique family of species-restricted genetic structures called plasmids, which can move between strains by mating. The insertion of this region into a native plasmid has led to divergent development of the mating region, and to the later acquisition of new toxin and antibiotic resistance genes. This provides selective advantage to the bacterium and also results in its ability to adapt to cause disease in different animal species. The program of research will characterize the novel genetic regions and toxin genes associated these plasmids in three different important intestinal infections of animals (calves, pigs, horses) to understand how these are involved in disease, and how these diseases can be better diagnosed and controlled. This program has the potential to make a revolutionary change in understanding of C. perfringens as a cause of disease in animals, and may have important application for C. perfringens-associated intestinal diseases in people.