This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Paredes-Sabja, D.
Right arrow Articles by Sarker, M. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Paredes-Sabja, D.
Right arrow Articles by Sarker, M. R.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Bacteriology, February 2008, p. 1190-1201, Vol. 190, No. 4
0021-9193/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.01748-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Clostridium perfringens Spore Germination: Characterization of Germinants and Their Receptors{triangledown}

Daniel Paredes-Sabja,1,2 J. Antonio Torres,2 Peter Setlow,4 and Mahfuzur R. Sarker1,3*

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.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University, 216 Dryden Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331. Phone: (541) 737-6918. Fax: (541) 737-2730. E-mail: sarkerm{at}oregonstate.edu

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 14 December 2007.

Journal of Bacteriology, February 2008, p. 1190-1201, Vol. 190, No. 4
0021-9193/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.01748-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Paredes-Sabja, D., Udompijitkul, P., Sarker, M. R. (2009). Inorganic Phosphate and Sodium Ions Are Cogerminants for Spores of Clostridium perfringens Type A Food Poisoning-Related Isolates. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 6299-6305 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Paredes-Sabja, D., Setlow, P., Sarker, M. R. (2009). The protease CspB is essential for initiation of cortex hydrolysis and dipicolinic acid (DPA) release during germination of spores of Clostridium perfringens type A food poisoning isolates. Microbiology 155: 3464-3472 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Paredes-Sabja, D., Setlow, P., Sarker, M. R. (2009). GerO, a Putative Na+/H+-K+ Antiporter, Is Essential for Normal Germination of Spores of the Pathogenic Bacterium Clostridium perfringens. J. Bacteriol. 191: 3822-3831 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Paredes-Sabja, D., Setlow, P., Sarker, M. R. (2009). Role of GerKB in Germination and Outgrowth of Clostridium perfringens Spores. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 3813-3817 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Paredes-Sabja, D., Setlow, P., Sarker, M. R. (2009). SleC Is Essential for Cortex Peptidoglycan Hydrolysis during Germination of Spores of the Pathogenic Bacterium Clostridium perfringens. J. Bacteriol. 191: 2711-2720 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Paredes-Sabja, D., Bond, C., Carman, R. J., Setlow, P., Sarker, M. R. (2008). Germination of spores of Clostridium difficile strains, including isolates from a hospital outbreak of Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD). Microbiology 154: 2241-2250 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • 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]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»