Clostridium botulinum

1. Clostridium botulinum By: Ellie McCarthy AP Biology – Period 1&2

2. Scientific Classification • Domain: Bacteria • Kingdom: Bacteria • Division: Firmicutes • Class: Clostridia • Order: Clostridiales • Family: Clostridiaceae • Genus: Clostridium • Species: C. botulinum • Binomial name: Clostridium botulinum

3. Characteristics • Gram positive • Shape: rod (bacilli) • Obligate anaerobe (chemautotroph) • Found in soil • Form in colonies • Motile

4. Unique Structural Features • Produces oval, subterminalendospores • Can survive in most environments and are very hard to kill • Produces botulinum neurotoxins types A-G • Called botulin • Extremely toxic • Types A, B, E and F affect humans • Types C and D affect animals • Type G is unknown

5. Health-Related Issues Disease Symptoms • Causes the disease botulism • Results from the ingestion of the neurotoxin (exotoxin) botulin released by C. botulinum while growing on food • Endospores frequently found in honey • Neurotoxins are absorbed into blood stream, affecting the nervous system by preventing the release of aceytlcholine • Symptoms usually begin between 12 and 72 hours after ingestion • Lasts from 1 to 10 days • If not caught early and treated properly, death results • Nausea • Vomiting • Fatigue • Dizziness • Double vision • Drooping eyelids • Slurred speech • Difficulty swallowing • Dryness of skin, mouth, and throat • No fever • Muscle weakness • Flaccid paralysis • Starts with eyes and face, then progresses downward • Eventual asphyxia (death)

6. Health-Related Issues (cont.) Treatment Types • Antibiotics ineffective, antitoxins more effective • Stop exotoxins in the bloodstream from further affecting the nervous system • Supportive treatment in an intensive care ward • Ventilation may be needed in cases of respiratory failure • Recovery takes weeks because nerve endings must rejuvenate • Food-borne botulism • Most common • Contamination of agricultural products and seafood • Under-processed canned foods or can leakage • Incorrectly home-canned foods • Wound botulism • Occurs when C. botulinum cells affect an open wound • Exotoxinstravel to the bloodstream and then affect the nervous system • Infant botulism • Rare • Symptoms often take weeks to occur • Presents withconstipation, tiredness and inability to feed, followed by respiratory failure

8. Historical Significance • 1895 – First recognized and isolated by Emile van Ermengem • 1928 – P. Tessemer Snipe and Hermann Sommer able to purify the botulism toxin • 1960s – Alan Scott and Edward Schantz began experimenting with botulism toxin type A (BTX-A) for therapeutic purposes • Cosmetically – used in Botox and other cosmetic formulas to treat frown lines and wrinkles • Therapeutically – muscle pain disorders, upper motor neuron syndrome, blepharospasm, strabismus and hemifacial spasm

9. Works Cited • Ecolab. Clostridium botulinum. 30 September 2003. 2 February 2011 <http://www.ecolab.com/PublicHealth/Cbotulinum.asp>. • Maricopa Community College. "Chapter 13: Disease Transmission & Pathogenesis." n.d. Biology. 2 February 2011 <http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/Biology/rcotter/BIO%20205/LessonBuilders/Chapter%2013LB/Ch13LessonBuilder_print.html>. • Marler, Bill. "Clostridium botulinum." 23 November 2010. Botulism Blog. 2 February 2011. <http://www.botulismblog.com/botulism-information-1/clostridium-botulinum/>. • Schenectady County Community College. "Clostridium botulinum." n.d. Education that Works. 2 February 2011 <http://www.sunysccc.edu/academic/mst/microbes/36cbotu.htm>. • Wikipedia. 2 February 2011. 2 February 2011 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clostridium_botulinum>.

10. Images Cited • Arsenault, Richard J. "Infant Botulism and Honey." 18 January 2010. NBA Food Advocate. 2 February 2011 <http://www.nbafoodadvocate.com/infant-botulinum-and-honey-2803>. • Cedar Crest College. "Clostridium botulinum." n.d. 2 February 2011 <http://www2.cedarcrest.edu/academic/bio/hale/bioT_EID/lectures/botulinum.html>. • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Public Health Image Library. "File:Clostridium botulinum01.png." 23 February 2006. wikipedia.org. 2 February 2011 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Clostridium_botulinum_01.png>. • Keith R. Schneider, Mickey E. Parish, and Renée M. Goodrich. "Clostridium botulinum." 29 October 2010. U. Ill. Food Safety. 2 February 2011 <http://www.extension.org/pages/Clostridium_botulinum>. • Lietz, Jessica. "Clostridium Botulinim Symptoms." 20 November 2009. ehow.com. 2 February 2011 <http://www.ehow.com/facts_5670419_clostridium-botulinim-symptoms.html>. • Maricopa Community College. Chapter 13: Disease Transmission & Pathogenesis. n.d. 2 February 2011 <http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/Biology/rcotter/BIO%20205/LessonBuilders/Chapter%2013LB/Ch13LessonBuilder_print.html>. • Marler, Bill. Clostridium botulinum. 23 November 2010. 2 February 2011 <http://www.botulismblog.com/botulism-information-1/clostridium-botulinum/>. • Matthews, L. "Treating Whiplash with Botox." 17 November 2010. PainNeck.com. 2 February 2011 <http://www.painneck.com/blog/treating-whiplash-botox/>.

11. Images Cited (cont.) • N.P.K. "Clostridium bolutinum Giant Microbe ." 2 January 2008. Giant Microbes. 2 February 2011 <http://www.giantmicrobes.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6053>. • Schenectady County Community College. Clostridium botulinum. n.d. 2 February 2011 <http://www.sunysccc.edu/academic/mst/microbes/36cbotu.htm>. • Science Channel. "Top 10 Infectious Diseases." 2009 12 December. Science Discovery. 2 February 2011 <http://science.discovery.com/top-ten/2009/infectious-diseases/infectious-diseases-08.html>. • Science Photo Library. "Clostridium botulinum bacteria." 1999. Science Photo Library. 2 February 2011 <http://www.sciencephoto.com/images/download_lo_res.html?id=662201272>. • Science Photo Library. "Clostridium botulinum bacteria." 1999. Science Photo Library. 2 February 2011 <http://www.sciencephoto.com/images/download_lo_res.html?id=662201273>. • Strandwitz, Phil. "Infant Botulism." 17 April 2008. Botulism. 2 February 2011 <http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2008/strandwi_phil/new_page_1.htm>. • Wikimedia Commons. "File:Botulism1and2.JPG." 27 October 2010. Wikimedia Commons. 2 February 2011 <http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Botulism1and2.JPG>. • Wikipedia. Botulinum Toxin. 24 January 2011. 2 February 2011 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botulinum_toxin>.