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Updated: Jul 5, 2025
Enrichment and Detection of Clostridium perfringens Toxinotypes in Retail Food Samples
Published on: October 18, 2019
Toxigenic Clostridium perfringens Isolated from At-Risk Paediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients
James Kuo1, Jasmina Uzunovic2, Amanda Jacobson3
1Department of Infectious Diseases and Host-Microbe Interactions, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA.
Background And Aims:
This study aimed to identify microbial drivers of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], by investigating mucosal-associated bacteria and their detrimental products in IBD patients.
Methods:
We directly cultured bacterial communities from mucosal biopsies from paediatric gastrointestinal patients and examined for pathogenicity-associated traits. Upon identifying Clostridium perfringens as toxigenic bacteria present in mucosal biopsies, we isolated strains and further characterized toxicity and prevalence.
Results:
Mucosal biopsy microbial composition differed from corresponding stool samples. C. perfringens was present in eight of nine patients' mucosal biopsies, correlating with haemolytic activity, but was not present in all corresponding stool samples. Large IBD datasets showed higher C. perfringens prevalence in stool samples of IBD adults [18.7-27.1%] versus healthy controls [5.1%]. In vitro, C. perfringens supernatants were toxic to cell types beneath the intestinal epithelial barrier, including endothelial cells, neuroblasts, and neutrophils, while the impact on epithelial cells was less pronounced, suggesting C. perfringens may be particularly damaging when barrier integrity is compromised. Further characterization using purified toxins and genetic insertion mutants confirmed perfringolysin O [PFO] toxin was sufficient for toxicity. Toxin RNA signatures were found in the original patient biopsies by PCR, suggesting intestinal production. C. perfringens supernatants also induced activation of neuroblast and dorsal root ganglion neurons in vitro, suggesting C. perfringens in inflamed mucosal tissue may directly contribute to abdominal pain, a frequent IBD symptom.
Conclusions:
Gastrointestinal carriage of certain toxigenic C. perfringens may have an important pathogenic impact on IBD patients. These findings support routine monitoring of C. perfringens and PFO toxins and potential treatment in patients.
Insights
Certain toxigenic Clostridium perfringens strains, particularly those producing perfringolysin O, may drive inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) progression and symptoms. Monitoring these bacteria and toxins is recommended for IBD patients.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis involves complex interactions between host immunity and the gut microbiome.
- Identifying specific microbial contributors to IBD is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate mucosal-associated bacteria and their toxic products as potential drivers of IBD.
- To characterize the role of Clostridium perfringens in IBD patients.
Main Methods:
- Direct culture of bacterial communities from pediatric gastrointestinal mucosal biopsies.
- Assessment of pathogenicity-associated traits and toxin characterization.
- Prevalence analysis in large IBD patient datasets and in vitro toxicity assays.
Main Results:
- Clostridium perfringens was frequently detected in IBD mucosal biopsies, correlating with hemolytic activity.
- C. perfringens toxins, specifically perfringolysin O (PFO), demonstrated in vitro toxicity to cells beneath the intestinal barrier.
- C. perfringens supernatants induced neuroblast activation, suggesting a role in IBD-associated abdominal pain.
Conclusions:
- Toxigenic C. perfringens strains in the gastrointestinal tract may significantly impact IBD pathogenesis.
- Routine monitoring for C. perfringens and its toxins, like PFO, is warranted in IBD patients.
- These findings suggest potential therapeutic strategies targeting C. perfringens in IBD management.
