Identification of a new variant with a chromosomally encoded enterotoxin gene in a suspected persistent food poisoning outbreak in Eritrea.

is a causative agent of various human and animal enteric diseases including food poisoning. In this study, we describe an interesting case of a persistent food poisoning outbreak among Finnish peacekeepers in Eritrea, possibly caused by carrying a new variant of the chromosomally encoded enterotoxin gene. strains causing food poisoning carry the enterotoxin gene, , in its chromosome (c-) or on a plasmid (p-).

Case report: Aberrant fecal microbiota composition of an infant diagnosed with prolonged intestinal botulism.

Background: Intestinal botulism is primarily reported in small babies as a condition known as infant botulism. The condition results from the ingestion of environmental or foodborne spores of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) producing Clostridia, usually Clostridium botulinum, and subsequent spore germination into active botulinum neurotoxinogenic cultures in the gut. It is generally considered that small babies are susceptible to C.

A Novel Prophage-like Insertion Element within Triggers Early Entry into Sporulation in .

Sporulation is a finely regulated morphogenetic program important in the ecology and epidemiology of . Exogenous elements disrupting sporulation-associated genes contribute to sporulation regulation and introduce diversity in the generally conserved sporulation programs of endospore formers. We identified a novel prophage-like DNA segment, termed the element, inserted within , encoding a sporulation-specific cysteine protease, in an environmental isolate of .

Cellular and population strategies underpinning neurotoxin production and sporulation in type E cultures.

Toxin production and sporulation are key determinants of pathogenesis in . Toxins cause the clinical manifestation of clostridial diseases, including diarrhea and colitis, tissue damage, and systemic effects on the nervous system. Spores ensure long-term survival and persistence in the environment, act as infectious agents, and initiate the host tissue colonization leading to infection.

Specific Isolation of Group I Cells by Phage Lysin Cell Wall Binding Domain with the Aid of S-Layer Disruption.

is a notorious pathogen that raises health and food safety concerns by producing the potent botulinum neurotoxin and causing botulism, a potentially fatal neuroparalytic disease in humans and animals. Efficient methods for the identification and isolation of are warranted for laboratory diagnostics of botulism and for food safety risk assessment. The cell wall binding domains (CBD) of phage lysins are recognized by their high specificity and affinity to distinct types of bacteria, which makes them promising for the development of diagnostic tools.