title: Variations in lethal toxin and cholesterol-dependent cytolysin production correspond to differences in cytotoxicity among strains of Clostridium sordellii.
abstract: Clostridium sordellii is an emerging human pathogen and frequent contaminant of cadaver-derived tissue transplant material. Herein, we provide data suggesting the potential for severe C. sordellii-associated disease may be dictated by whether the specific strain produces lethal toxin (TcsL) or sordellilysin (SDL), a cholesterol-dependent cytolysin. The virulence factor profiles of 14 C. sordellii isolates were determined, and culture supernatant from six of the isolates was found to be cytotoxic to mammalian cells; yet, only one of these strains conferred cytotoxicity via production of TcsL. Cytotoxicity of TcsL- strains correlated with the production of sordellilysin, which was also recognized by an antiperfringolysin O antibody. However, supernatant from TcsL+, SDL- strains demonstrated a lower LD50 relative to TcsL-, SDL+ strains, suggesting the potential for severe C. sordellii-associated disease may be determined by the particular strain colonizing the host.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Voth
authors.forename: Octavio V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Jimmy D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Ballard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000633:toxicity; D001483:Base Sequence; D016466:CHO Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D047989:Paraclostridium sordellii / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006224:Cricetinae; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000633:toxicity; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005838:Genotype; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D010641:Phenotype; D013045:Species Specificity; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003603:Cytotoxins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C072292:lethal toxin LT, Clostridium sordellii; C073548:toxin L, Clostridium sordellii; D002784:Cholesterol