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Clostridium perfringens Spore Germination: Characterization of Germinants and Their Receptors

Departments of Biomedical Sciences,¹ Food Science and Technology,² Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331,³ Department of Molecular, Microbial and Structural Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 06030⁴

Received 31 October 2007/ Accepted 27 November 2007

Clostridium perfringens food poisoning is caused by type A isolates carrying a chromosomal enterotoxin (cpe) gene (C-cpe), while C. perfringens-associated non-food-borne gastrointestinal (GI) diseases are caused by isolates carrying a plasmid-borne cpe gene (P-cpe). C. perfringens spores are thought to be the important infectious cell morphotype, and after inoculation into a suitable host, these spores must germinate and return to active growth to cause GI disease. We have found differences in the germination of spores of C-cpe and P-cpe isolates in that (i) while a mixture of L-asparagine and KCl was a good germinant for spores of C-cpe and P-cpe isolates, KCl and, to a lesser extent, L-asparagine triggered spore germination in C-cpe isolates only; and (ii) L-alanine or L-valine induced significant germination of spores of P-cpe but not C-cpe isolates. Spores of a gerK mutant of a C-cpe isolate in which two of the proteins of a spore nutrient germinant receptor were absent germinated slower than wild-type spores with KCl, did not germinate with L-asparagine, and germinated poorly compared to wild-type spores with the nonnutrient germinants dodecylamine and a 1:1 chelate of Ca²⁺ and dipicolinic acid. In contrast, spores of a gerAA mutant of a C-cpe isolate that lacked another component of a nutrient germinant receptor germinated at the same rate as that of wild-type spores with high concentrations of KCl, although they germinated slightly slower with a lower KCl concentration, suggesting an auxiliary role for GerAA in C. perfringens spore germination. In sum, this study identified nutrient germinants for spores of both C-cpe and P-cpe isolates of C. perfringens and provided evidence that proteins encoded by the gerK operon are required for both nutrient-induced and non-nutrient-induced spore germination.

Published ahead of print on 14 December 2007.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Paredes-Sabja, D., Setlow, B., Setlow, P., Sarker, M. R. (2008). Characterization of Clostridium perfringens Spores That Lack SpoVA Proteins and Dipicolinic Acid. J. Bacteriol. 190: 4648-4659 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Paredes-Sabja, D., Sarker, N., Setlow, B., Setlow, P., Sarker, M. R. (2008). Roles of DacB and Spm Proteins in Clostridium perfringens Spore Resistance to Moist Heat, Chemicals, and UV Radiation. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 3730-3738 [Abstract] [Full Text]