Spore-forming Bacilli and Clostridia in human disease.
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.
Mallozzi
Michael
M
Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, University of Arizona, 1117, East Lowell St., Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
Viswanathan
V K
VK
Vedantam
Gayatri
G
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*
D001427:Bacterial Toxins