title: Spore-forming Bacilli and Clostridia in human disease.
abstract: Many Gram-positive spore-forming bacteria in the Firmicute phylum are important members of the human commensal microbiota, which, in rare cases, cause opportunistic infections. Other spore-formers, however, have evolved to become dedicated pathogens that can cause a striking variety of diseases. Despite variations in disease presentation, the etiologic agent is often the spore, with bacterially produced toxins playing a central role in the pathophysiology of infection. This review will focus on the specific diseases caused by spores of the Clostridia and Bacilli.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, University of Arizona, 1117, East Lowell St., Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mallozzi
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Viswanathan
authors.forename: Gayatri
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vedantam
mesh_terms: D001407:Bacillus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000633:toxicity*; D003013:Clostridium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000472:pathogenicity*
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins