Spore-forming Bacilli and Clostridia in human disease

• Published in: Future microbiology Vol. 5; no. 7; p. 1109
• Main Authors: Mallozzi, Michael, Viswanathan, V K, Vedantam, Gayatri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-07-2010
• Subjects: Bacillus - cytology; Bacillus - metabolism; Bacillus - pathogenicity; Bacterial Toxins - biosynthesis; Bacterial Toxins - toxicity; Clostridium - cytology; Clostridium - metabolism; Clostridium - pathogenicity; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections - microbiology; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections - pathology; Humans; Spores, Bacterial - pathogenicity
• ISSN: 1746-0921
• DOI: 10.2217/fmb.10.60

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.