Clostridium perfringens type A-E toxin plasmids

Res Microbiol. 2015 May;166(4):264-79. doi: 10.1016/j.resmic.2014.09.004. Epub 2014 Oct 2.

Abstract

Clostridium perfringens relies upon plasmid-encoded toxin genes to cause intestinal infections. These toxin genes are associated with insertion sequences that may facilitate their mobilization and transfer, giving rise to new toxin plasmids with common backbones. Most toxin plasmids carry a transfer of clostridial plasmids locus mediating conjugation, which likely explains the presence of similar toxin plasmids in otherwise unrelated C. perfringens strains. The association of many toxin genes with insertion sequences and conjugative plasmids provides virulence flexibility when causing intestinal infections. However, incompatibility issues apparently limit the number of toxin plasmids maintained by a single cell.

Keywords: Clostridia; Conjugation; Gastrointestinal disease; Plasmid evolution; Plasmid-encoded toxin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Biological
  • Bacterial Toxins / genetics*
  • Clostridium perfringens / genetics*
  • Conjugation, Genetic
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • Gene Transfer, Horizontal
  • Plasmids*
  • Virulence Factors / genetics

Substances

  • Bacterial Toxins
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • Virulence Factors