Diversity of the Germination Apparatus in <i>Clostridium botulinum</i> Groups I, II, III, and IV.

ABSTRACT: Clostridium botulinum is a highly dangerous pathogen that forms very resistant endospores that are ubiquitous in the environment, and which, under favorable conditions germinate to produce vegetative cells that multiply and form the exceptionally potent botulinum neurotoxin. To improve the control of botulinum neurotoxin-forming clostridia, it is important to understand the mechanisms involved in spore germination. Here we present models for spore germination in C. botulinum based on comparative genomics analyses, with C. botulinum Groups I and III sharing similar pathways, which differ from those proposed for C. botulinum Groups II and IV. All spores germinate in response to amino acids interacting with a germinant receptor, with four types of germinant recepto

SUBMITTER: Brunt J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5083711 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature