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Plasmids are extrachromosomal DNA molecules found in bacteria, archaea, and some eukaryotic microbes like yeast. These small, circular DNA structures typically contain fewer than 30 genes, although some may exist linearly. Plasmids vary in their number within a cell, known as copy number. Single-copy plasmids are present in one copy per cell and multi-copy plasmids are present in multiple copies, reaching over 100 copies per cell.Plasmids usually replicate independently of the chromosomal DNA...
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Bacterial toxins are sophisticated virulence factors that enable pathogenic bacteria to interact with, invade, and damage host tissues. These toxins fall broadly into two types: protein exotoxins, which are secreted into the environment and target specific host receptors, and lipopolysaccharide endotoxins, which are structural components of the bacterial outer membrane released primarily during bacterial lysis or membrane shedding. Exotoxins generally act more selectively, binding to cell...
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Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid...
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The genome of most prokaryotic organisms consists of double-stranded DNA organized into one circular chromosome in a region of cytoplasm called the nucleoid. The chromosome is tightly wound, or supercoiled, for efficient storage. Prokaryotes also contain other circular pieces of DNA called plasmids. These plasmids are smaller than the chromosome and often carry genes that confer adaptive functions, such as antibiotic resistance.
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Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated infectious disease that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a Gram-positive, pleomorphic rod that lacks spore-forming capability and exhibits a characteristic club-shaped morphology under microscopic examination. While C. diphtheriae can asymptomatically colonize mucosal surfaces, clinical disease manifests only when the bacterial strain is lysogenized by a specific β-corynephage. This phage...
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Clostridium perfringens type A-E toxin plasmids.

John C Freedman1, James R Theoret1, Jessica A Wisniewski2

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Research in Microbiology
|October 7, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Clostridium perfringens uses plasmid-encoded toxin genes for intestinal infections. Insertion sequences and conjugative plasmids facilitate toxin gene transfer, but plasmid incompatibility limits their number within a single cell.

Keywords:
ClostridiaConjugationGastrointestinal diseasePlasmid evolutionPlasmid-encoded toxin

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Clostridium perfringens causes intestinal infections through plasmid-encoded toxin genes.
  • Toxin genes are often linked with mobile genetic elements like insertion sequences.
  • Conjugative plasmids play a role in the dissemination of toxin genes among bacterial strains.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of plasmids, insertion sequences, and conjugation in the evolution and spread of toxin genes in Clostridium perfringens.
  • To understand the mechanisms of toxin gene mobilization and transfer.
  • To explore the factors limiting the maintenance of multiple toxin plasmids within a single bacterial cell.

Main Methods:

  • Bioinformatic analysis of Clostridium perfringens plasmid sequences.
  • Comparative genomics to identify common plasmid backbones and associated genetic elements.
  • Phylogenetic analysis to infer the evolutionary history of toxin plasmids.

Main Results:

  • Toxin genes in Clostridium perfringens are frequently associated with insertion sequences, facilitating their mobilization.
  • Conjugative transfer loci are common on toxin plasmids, promoting their spread between strains.
  • Despite efficient transfer, plasmid incompatibility restricts the number of distinct toxin plasmids maintained per cell.
  • Common plasmid backbones suggest a shared evolutionary origin for many toxin plasmids.

Conclusions:

  • The combination of mobile genetic elements and conjugative plasmids provides Clostridium perfringens with significant virulence flexibility.
  • Plasmid incompatibility acts as a key regulatory mechanism controlling toxin plasmid diversity within individual bacteria.
  • Understanding these genetic dynamics is crucial for controlling Clostridium perfringens-associated diseases.