Colonic Microbiota Signatures across Five Northern European Countries

The composition of the colonic microbiota of 91 northern Europeans was characterized by fluorescent in situ hybridization using 18 phylogenetic probes. On average 75% of the bacteria were identified, and large interindividual variations were observed. Clostridium coccoides and Clostridium leptum were the dominant groups (28.0% and 25.2%), followed by the Bacteroides (8.5%). According to principal component analysis, no significant grouping with respect to geographic origin, age, or gender was observed.     

ADP-ribosylation of actin causes increase in the rate of ATP exchange and inhibition of ATP hydrolysis

ADP-ribosylation of skeletal muscle actin by Clostridium perfringens iota toxin increased the rate of exchange of actin-bound [gamma-32P]ATP by unlabelled ATP about twofold. Increased exchange rates were observed with ATP and ATP[gamma S], much less with ADP but not with AMP or NAD. ADP-ribosylation of skeletal muscle actin reduced "basal" and Mg2+ (1 mM)-induced ATP hydrolysis by about 80%. Similar inhibition of ATP hydrolysis was observed with liver actin ADP-ribosylated by Clostridium botulinum C2 toxin. The data indicate that ADP-ribosylation of actin at Arg-177 largely affects the ATP-binding and ATPase activity.     

酪酸梭菌活菌散治疗小儿病毒性腹泻疗效观察

目的观察和评价酪酸梭菌活菌散（商品名：宝乐安）治疗小儿轮状病毒性腹泻的临床疗效。方法将93例轮状病毒性腹泻患儿随机分为观察组和对照组,观察组46例,给予酪酸梭菌活菌散,0．5g/次,3次／d;对照组47例,给予利巴韦林15mg／（kg·d）,分2次肌内注射或加入10％GS250ml中静脉滴注。疗程均为3—7d,观察疗效和不良反应。结果观察组总有效率为95．7％,轮状病毒转阴率为89．2％;对照组总有效率为76．6％,轮状病毒转阴率为65．8％,差异有显著性（P〈0．05）。2组均未见不良反应。结论酪酸梭菌活菌散治疗小儿轮状病毒性腹泻疗效显著,且未见不良反应,值得临床推广应用。     

Detection and quantification of four species of the genus Clostridium in infant feces

To determine the composition of Clostridium in the feces of infants approximately 30 days old, we have developed a detection and quantification method of Clostridium paraputrificum, Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium tertium, and Clostridium difficile by species-specific primers. C. perfringens and C. difficile were detected in four fecal samples from 22 infants (18.2%), whereas C. paraputrificum was detected in three samples (16.7%). C. tertium was detected in two samples (9.1%). Moreover, the occurrences of the four species in bottle-and mix-fed infants were relatively higher than in breast-fed infants (P< 0.05). Subsequently, positive samples detected by nested PCR (polymerase chain reaction) were subjected to realtime PCR. The results showed that the numbers of C. paraputrificum, C. perfringens, C. tertium, and C. difficile ranged from about 1x10(5) to 3x10(7) cells/g wet feces.     

A novel one step process for cellulose fermentation using mesophilic cellulolytic and glycolytic Clostridia

Summary A mesophilic cellulolytic Clostridium has been isolated and coculture of this Clostridium and Clostridium acetobutylicum was established. In 9 days, 7 g/l of Solka Floc were fermented by the monculture. During the same time of incubation, 20 g/l of Solka Floc were degraded by the coculture, and 27 g/l in 8 days in a fed batch fermentation. Only the first phase of the acetone butanol fermentation (acid formation) was observed.     

酪酸梭菌活菌散与制霉菌素片联用治疗婴幼儿鹅口疮的疗效观察

目的观察和评价酪酸梭菌活菌散与制霉菌素片联用治疗婴幼儿鹅口疮的临床疗效。方法将97例鹅口疮患儿随机分为观察组和对照组,观察组47例,在涂抹制霉菌素片的基础上服用酪酸梭菌活菌散,0.5g/次,3次/d,疗程28 d,对照组50例,单独制霉菌素片,观察复发率和不良反应。结果观察组的总复发率为8.5%,显著低于对照组的30%(P<0.05)。结论酪酸梭菌活菌散与制霉菌素片联用治疗婴幼儿鹅口疮预防复发疗效显著,且未见不良反应,值得临床推广应用。     

Preparation of antibacterial and antitoxic Clostridium difficile sera.

Preparation of Clostridium difficile antibacterial and antitoxic sera is presented. Fifty one strains (72%) were typeable within Delmee scheme. Twenty strains (28%) belonged to new Polish serogroups designated 18, 27, 70, 71, 72, 88, 89 and NICH. Supernatants of all toxigenic Clostridium difficile strains were neutralized by gamma-globulin fraction of goat Clostridium difficile antitoxin in neutralization assay when it was performed on McCoy cell line. Only 8 toxigenic strains (21%) were positive in counterimmunoelectrophoresis.     

酪酸菌对肠道有益菌的增殖作用和共生关系研究

目的通过体外液体培养证明,酪酸菌能与双歧杆菌、嗜酸乳杆菌和粪链球菌这些肠道有益菌共生.方法在双歧杆菌、嗜酸乳杆菌和粪链球菌的培养基中,加入1/3比例的酪酸菌发酵提取物,进行室温培养24 h.结果3种菌的活菌含量分别比对照组提高了24.00%、42.57%和6.76%.结论表明酪酸菌对肠道有益菌具有增殖作用.     

Clostridium saccharogumia sp. nov. and Lactonifactor longoviformis gen. nov., sp. nov., two novel human faecal bacteria involved in the conversion of the dietary phytoestrogen secoisolariciresinol diglucoside

Two anaerobic bacteria involved in the conversion of the plant lignan secoisolariciresinol diglucoside were isolated from faeces of a healthy male adult. The first isolate, strain SDG-Mt85-3Db, was a mesophilic strictly anaerobic Gram-positive helically coiled rod. Based on 16S r RNA gene sequence analysis, its nearest relatives were Clostridium cocleatum (96.7% similarity) and Clostridium ramosum (96.6%). In contrast to these species, the isolate was devoid of alpha-galactosidase and -glucosidase and did not grow on maltose, melibiose, raffinose, rhamnose and trehalose. The hypothesis that strain SDG-Mt85-3Db represents a new bacterial species of the Clostridium cluster XVIII was confirmed by DNA-DNA hybridisation experiments. The G+C content of DNA of strain SDG-Mt85-3Db (30.7+/-0.8 mol%) was comparable with that of Clostridium butyricum, the type species of the genus Clostridium. The name Clostridium saccharogumia is proposed for strain SDG-Mt85-3Db (=DSM 17460T=CCUG 51486T). The second isolate, strain ED-Mt61/PYG-s6, was a mesophilic strictly anaerobic Gram-positive regular rod. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, its nearest relatives were Clostridium amygdalinum (93.3%), Clostridium saccharolyticum (93.1%) and Ruminococcus productus (93.0%). The isolate differed from these species in its ability to dehydrogenate enterodiol. It also possessed alpha-arabinosidase and -galactosidase and had a higher G+C content of DNA (48.0 mol%). According to these findings, it is proposed to create a novel genus, Lactonifactor, and a novel species, Lactonifactor longoviformis, to accommodate strain ED-Mt61/PYG-s6. The type strain is DSM 17459T (=CCUG 51487T).     

Fecal lactoferrin and Clostridium spp. in stools of autistic children

Stools from autistic and healthy children were studied for fecal lactoferrin, Clostridium difficile toxins, Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin and cultured for Clostridium spp. Elevated level of FLA was demonstrated in 24.4% stools, all from boys (31.25%). No toxins were detected. Clostridium spp. was isolated with similar frequency from all samples. C. perfringens were isolated significantly often from the autistic stools, intermediate sensitive strains to penicillin 19%, to clindamycin 11.3%, and to metronidazole 7.5% were detected. Further studies on fecal microflora and inflammatory mediators, with larger groups of patients, are required in order to explain their role in neurological deficits.     

酪酸梭菌活菌散与抗菌药间隔序贯应用预防抗生素相关性腹泻疗效观察

目的观察和评价酪酸梭菌活菌散（商品名：宝乐安）与抗菌药间隔序贯应用治疗小儿肺炎预防抗生素相关性腹泻的临床疗效。方法将203例肺炎患儿随机分为预防组和对照组,预防组103例,对照组100例,2组均给予抗菌药及对症支持治疗。其中预防组在治疗的同时间隔2～3 h序贯使用酪酸梭菌活菌散,0.5 g/次,3次/d,出现腹泻继续服用;对照组不用酪酸梭菌活菌散预防,出现腹泻用酪酸梭菌活菌散治疗,0.5 g/次,3次/d。对2组继发腹泻的发生率、腹泻持续天数、肺炎治疗的总疗程、腹痛和脱水等症状和体征进行统计分析。结果预防组继发腹泻12例,发生率为11.7%,对照组继发腹泻57例,发生率为57.0%,2组相比差异具有非常显著性（P〈0.01）;预防组腹泻持续时间和治疗疗程显著短于对照组（P〈0.01）;预防组患儿腹痛和脱水等症状和体征发生率均少于对照组（P〈0.01）。结论酪酸梭菌活菌散与抗菌药间隔序贯应用治疗肺炎,能显著降低小儿抗生素相关性腹泻的发生率,预防性应用具有积极的临床意义。     

Analysis of the Botulinum Neurotoxin Type F Gene Clusters in Proteolytic and Nonproteolytic Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium barati

Comparison of genes encoding type F botulinum neurotoxin progenitor complex in strains of proteolytic Clostridium botulinum strain Langeland, nonproteolytic Clostridium botulinum strain 202F, and Clostridium barati strain ATCC 43256 reveals an identical organization of genes encoding a protein of molecular mass of approx. 47 kDa (P-47), nontoxic-nonhemagglutinin (NTNH) and botulinum toxin (BoNT). Although homology between the protein components of the complexes encoded by these different species all producing botulinum neurotoxin type F is considerable (approx. 69–88% identity), exceptionally high homology is observed between the C-termini of the P-47s (approx. 96% identity) and the NTNHs (approx. 94% identity) encoded by Clostridium botulinum type F strain Langeland and Clostridium botulinum type A strain Kyoto. Such a region of extremely high sequence identity is strongly indicative of recombination in these strains synthesizing botulinum neurotoxins of different antigenic types. Received: 13 April 1998 / Accepted: 9 May 1998     

Analysis of bacterial diversity in the canine duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon by comparative 16S rRNA gene analysis

The study aim was to describe the diversity of the intraluminal intestinal microbial community in dogs by direct sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. Intestinal content was collected from the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon from six healthy dogs. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene was amplified with universal bacterial primers. Amplicons were ligated into cloning vectors and near-full-length 16S rRNA gene inserts were analyzed. From a total of 864 clones analyzed, 106 nonredundant 16S rRNA gene sequences were identified. Forty-two (40%) sequences showed<98% sequence similarity to 16S rRNA gene sequences reported previously. Operation taxonomic units were classified into four phyla: Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria. Clostridiales predominated in the duodenum (40% of clones) and jejunum (39%), and were highly abundant in the ileum (25%) and colon (26%). Sequences affiliated with Clostridium cluster XI and Clostridium cluster XIVa dominated in the proximal small intestine and colon, respectively. Fusobacteriales and Bacteroidales were the most abundant bacterial order in the ileum (33%) and colon (30%). Enterobacteriales were more commonly observed in the small intestine than in the colon. Lactobacillales occurred commonly in all parts of the intestine.     

酪酸梭菌活菌散治疗婴幼儿病毒性腹泻疗效观察

目的观察和评价酪酸梭菌活菌散治疗婴幼儿病毒性腹泻的临床疗效。方法将200例病毒性腹泻患儿随机分为观察组和对照组。观察组120例,服用酪酸梭菌活菌散,首次1 000 mg,以后500 mg/次,4次/d,疗程3~7 d,对照组80例,应用蒙脱石散治疗,观察疗效和不良反应。结果观察组总有效率为92.5%,对照组总有效率为71.25%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论酪酸梭菌活菌散治疗婴幼儿病毒性腹泻疗效显著,且未见不良反应,值得临床推广应用。     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Clostridium botulinum type E toxin.

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using the "double-sandwich" technique was utilized to determine Clostridium botulinum type E toxin. With this technique, about 80 mouse intraperitoneal 50% lethal doses of toxin could be detected. Cross-reaction was hardly observed with C. botulinum type A and B toxins. No cross-reaction was observed with culture supernatants of C. botulinum type C or other Clostridium strains. In all probability this was due to the high specificity of the antiserum prepared aginst the toxic component of type E toxin.     

Fecal microbial diversity in a strict vegetarian as determined by molecular analysis and cultivation

Fecal microbial diversity in a strictly vegetarian woman was determined by the 16S rDNA library method, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis and a culture-based method. The 16S rDNA library was generated from extracted fecal DNA, using bacteria-specific primers. Randomly selected clones were partially sequenced. T-RFLP analysis was performed using amplified 16S rDNA. The lengths of T-RF were analyzed after digestion by HhaI and MspI. The cultivated bacterial isolates were used for partial sequencing of 16S rDNA. Among 183 clones obtained, approximately 29% of the clones belonged to 13 known species. About 71% of the remaining clones were novel "phylotypes" (at least 98% similarity of clone sequence). A total of 55 species or phylotypes were identified among the 16S rDNA library, while the cultivated isolates included 22 species or phylotypes. In addition, many new phylotypes were detected from the 16S rDNA library. The 16S rDNA library and isolates commonly included the Bacteroides group, Bifidobacterium group, and Clostridium rRNA clusters IV, XIVa, XVI and XVIII. T-RFLP analysis revealed the major composition of the vegetarian gut microbiota were Clostridium rRNA subcluster XIVa and Clostridium rRNA cluster XVIII. The dominant feature of this strictly vegetarian gut microbiota was the detection of many Clostridium rRNA subcluster XIVa and C. ramosum (Clostridium rRNA cluster XVIII).     

Improved ethanol production from various carbohydrates through anaerobic thermophilic co-culture

Saccharification is one of the most critical steps in producing lignocellulose-based bio-ethanol through consolidated bioprocessing (CBP). However, extreme pH and ethanol concentration are commonly considered as potential inhibitors for the application of Clostridium sp. in CBP. The fermentations of several saccharides derived from lignocellulosics were investigated with a co-culture consisting of Clostridium themocellum and Clostridium thermolacticum. Alkali environments proved to be more favorable for ethanol production. Fermentation inhibition was observed at high ethanol concentrations and extreme pH. However, low levels of initial ethanol addition resulted in an unexpected stimulatory impact on the final ethanol productions for all cultures under selected conditions. The co-culture was able to actively ferment glucose, xylose, cellulose and micro-crystallized cellulose (MCC). The ethanol yield observed in the co-culture was higher (up to twofold) than in mono-cultures, especially in MCC fermentation. The highest ethanol yield (as a percentage of the theoretical maximum) observed was 75% (w/w) for MCC and 90% (w/w) for xylose.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Clostridium botulinum type E toxin.

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using the "double-sandwich" technique was utilized to determine Clostridium botulinum type E toxin. With this technique, about 80 mouse intraperitoneal 50% lethal doses of toxin could be detected. Cross-reaction was hardly observed with C. botulinum type A and B toxins. No cross-reaction was observed with culture supernatants of C. botulinum type C or other Clostridium strains. In all probability this was due to the high specificity of the antiserum prepared aginst the toxic component of type E toxin.     

Identification, detection, and spatial resolution of Clostridium populations responsible for cellulose degradation in a methanogenic landfill leachate bioreactor

An anaerobic landfill leachate bioreactor was operated with crystalline cellulose and sterile landfill leachate until a steady state was reached. Cellulose hydrolysis, acidogenesis, and methanogenesis were measured. Microorganisms attached to the cellulose surfaces were hypothesized to be the cellulose hydrolyzers. 16S rRNA gene clone libraries were prepared from this attached fraction and also from the mixed fraction (biomass associated with cellulose particles and in the planktonic phase). Both clone libraries were dominated by Firmicutes phylum sequences (100% of the attached library and 90% of the mixed library), and the majority fell into one of five lineages of the clostridia. Clone group 1 (most closely related to Clostridium stercorarium), clone group 2 (most closely related to Clostridium thermocellum), and clone group 5 (most closely related to Bacteroides cellulosolvens) comprised sequences in Clostridium group III. Clone group 3 sequences were in Clostridium group XIVa (most closely related to Clostridium sp. strain XB90). Clone group 4 sequences were affiliated with a deeply branching clostridial lineage peripherally associated with Clostridium group VI. This monophyletic group comprises a new Clostridium cluster, designated cluster VIa. Specific fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes for the five groups were designed and synthesized, and it was demonstrated in FISH experiments that bacteria targeted by the probes for clone groups 1, 2, 4, and 5 were very abundant on the surfaces of the cellulose particles and likely the key cellulolytic microorganisms in the landfill bioreactor. The FISH probe for clone group 3 targeted cells in the planktonic phase, and these organisms were hypothesized to be glucose fermenters.     

Enterotoxin Production by Lecithinase-positive and Lecithinase-negative Clostridium perfringens Isolated from Food Poisoning Outbreaks and other sources

Strains of Clostridium perfringens from a variety of sources were examined for their ability to produce enterotoxin in vitro. Fifty-six of 65 (86%) strains isolated from separate outbreaks of food poisoning were found to be enterotoxigenic, only two of 174 strains from other sources produced enterotoxin. The ability to produce this toxin was not confined to particular serotypes: types frequently encountered as the cause of outbreaks were also isolated as enterotoxin-negative strains from faeces, minced beef and meat carcasses. Loss of toxigenicity was also observed in different serotypes. Five strains of lecithinase-negative Cl. perfringens produced high levels of enterotoxin. Four strains of Clostridium plagarum failed to produce enterotoxin although they were serologically typable with the Cl. perfringens antisera.