title: Beneficial and harmful roles of bacteria from the Clostridium genus.
abstract: Bacteria of the Clostridium genus are often described only as a biological threat and a foe of mankind. However, many of them have positive properties and thanks to them they may be used in many industry branches (e.g., in solvents and alcohol production, in medicine, and also in esthetic cosmetology). During the last 10 years interest in application of C. botulinum and C. tetani in medicine significantly increased. Currently, the structure and biochemical properties of neurotoxins produced by these bacterial species, as well as possibilities of application of such toxins as botulinum as a therapeutic factor in humans, are being intensely researched. The main aim of this article is to demonstrate that bacteria from Clostridium spp. are not only pathogens and the enemy of humanity but they also have many important beneficial properties which make them usable among many chemical, medical, and cosmetic applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Samul
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Worsztynowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leja
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Włodzimierz
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grajek
mesh_terms: D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002617:Chemical Industry; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003358:Cosmetics; D006801:Humans; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D009498:Neurotoxins; D001905:Botulinum Toxins