No Abstract Available.
Clostridium botulinum type B* ; Clostridium botulinum* ; Clostridium*

No Abstract Available.
Clostridium botulinum type B* ; Clostridium botulinum* ; Clostridium*

A completely synthetic gene encoding the He domain of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (AHc, 1287 bp, 429 aa, -50 kD) was constructed with oligonucleotides. After expressed in Escherichia coli, soluble product AHc was gained and verified by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. The expressive level of recombinant AHc in E. coli was very high (36%-53% of soluble total proteins) and the purified yield was more than 30 mg/L by one-step purification. Then, the purified AHc was used to vaccinate Balb/c mice, which developed a strong and specific immune response as expected following administration of AHe protein via the subcutaneous route. Results from BoNT/A neutralization assay showed that the serum from mice vaccinated with AHc contained high titer protective antibody. These results showed that the soluble, stable and high-levelly expressive AHc not only could be produced by the prokaryotic expression system built in our lab, but also owned strong immunogenicity to prepare antitoxin for treatment and as sub-unit candidate vaccine for prophylaxis against botulinum toxin serotype A.
Animals ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; Bacterial Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Botulism ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Clostridium botulinum type A ; genetics ; immunology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Vaccines, DNA ; genetics ; immunology

Botulism is a rare neuroparalytic disease caused by neurotoxins of Clostridium species. A ten-year-old girl and her mother were admitted to a hospital with symptoms of progressive dizziness, blurred vision, slurred speech, constipation and difficulty in swallowing. These characteristic manifestations and clinical course prompted an examination of the possibility of botulism. Mouse bioassay performed with mother's stool demonstrated type A botulinum toxin and culture of the mother's stool was positive for Clostridium botulinum type A. This is the first case of botulism in Korea.
Animals ; Biological Assay ; Botulinum Toxins ; Botulism* ; Clostridium ; Clostridium botulinum ; Clostridium botulinum type A ; Constipation ; Deglutition ; Dizziness ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mice ; Mothers ; Neurotoxins

Clostridium tertium-induced bacteremia is a rare condition seen predominantly in neutropenic patients and/or patients with gastrointestinal disease. In this report, we describe a non-neutropenic, 72-year-old patient with a small bowel obstruction who presented with C. tertium bacteremia. Clostridium tertium is aerotolerant and resistant to broad-spectrum cephalosporins. The aerotolerant nature of C. tertium is resulted in delayed identification and reporting since it is not initially considered a candidate for infection.
Aged ; Bacteremia ; Cephalosporins ; Clostridium ; Clostridium tertium ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans

Childhood malnutrition is a global problem and one of the leading cause of stunted growth, and responsible for the death of millions of children every year. Although extensive efforts have been made to promote healthy growth but results are not satisfactory and infant's health remains a challenge. Previously, it was demonstrated that undernourished children have disrupted normal pattern of intestinal microbiota and led to a proposal that it might be involved in impaired postnatal growth. Recently, various research groups focused on Malawian population and proved the role of intestinal microbiota in the stunted growth of children. In addition, one group showed the role of sialylated bovine milk oligosaccharides in promoting microbiota-dependent growth in malnourished children. Moreover, it was also revealed that Clostridium symbiosum and Ruminococcus gnavus might be used as therapeutic agent for ameliorating growth abnormalities in malnourished children. The current article summarizes the recent advancement in identifying interventions regarding health promotion of malnourished children.
Child ; Clostridium symbiosum ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome* ; Growth Disorders ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Malnutrition ; Microbiota ; Milk ; Oligosaccharides ; Ruminococcus

OBJECTIVE: To describe the profile, management, and outcome of adult patients admitted for tetanus. METHODOLOGY: A search of the hospital and department database was conducted for patients with admitting or final diagnosis of tetanus. Patients below 19 years old, with alternative diagnosis, incomplete or unavailable records, transferred to another institution, and went home against medical advice were excluded. Data on patient demographics, source of infection, symptom severity, and management were obtained. Data was described using proportions and averages. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were included in the study. Twenty-seven were male with a mean age of 45.63 ± 13.39. All cases had no history of tetanus vaccination. The most common focus of infection was acute injuries. More than half of patients would be diagnosed within 72 hours of symptom onset. The most common symptoms on presentation were trismus, rigidity, dysphagia, and spasms. On admission, Cole severity for 11 (34.4%) cases was mild, 17 (53.1%) moderate, and 4 (12.5%) severe. Prophylactic tracheostomy was performed in 31 patients and 19 (59.4%) were placed on assisted ventilation. All cases were treated with metronidazole. A benzodiazepine was started in all cases for spasm control. Baclofen, magnesium sulfate, and antiepileptic drugs such as carbamazepine were also used. Twenty (62.5%) patients suffered from complications, the most common of which was nosocomial pneumonia, which resulted in longer ICU and hospital stays. Eleven patients exhibited progression in Cole severity: 8.6% at stage 1, 57.1% at stage 2, and 34.3% cases were at stage 3. Mortality rate was 19% with the proportion increasing with Cole severity. CONCLUSION We describe the presentation and course of patients admitted for tetanus in our institution. Most cases were males and all cases had no vaccination history. Trismus was the most common presenting symptom. Metronidazole was the antibiotic of choice and benzodiazepines were the mainstay for spasm control. Majority of cases were mild to moderate in severity on presentation. Advanced disease stages were associated with higher fatality rates. Complications were associated with longer ICU and hospital stay. These findings suggest that prevention of progression of disease severity and complications must be the focus of tetanus protocols to shorten hospital stay and decrease mortality rate. Promoting vaccination of at-risk adults is recommended to lower the incidence of tetanus.
Tetanus ; Clostridium tetani ; Clostridium Infections

Botulinum toxin type A is a neurotoxin produced by clostridium botulinum that blocks the presynaptic release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. This blockade of the neuromuscular junction is definitive, but the existence of nerve sprouting explains the reversible nature of the paralysis induced by injection of this toxin. The clinical effect appears between the 3rd and 7th day after injection. The author had experienced 218 cases from January 1999 to September 1999. We injected toxin on forehead (96 cases), glabella (91 cases), crow's feet (88 cases), neck (12 cases), nasolabial fold (9 cases), masseter muscle (8 cases), and chin (7 cases). The author obtained wrinkles decreased significantly. The effect during the period of activity of the toxin, which lasted 3 to 6 months after injection and masseter muscle area lasted 6 to 9 months. The advantage of botulinum toxin injection is the effective treatment with wrinkles in upper half of face and neck and no disturbance in daily life. The disadvantage of botulinum toxin injection is the feeling of masked face after injection, short duration, and sometimes unwilling facial expression.
Acetylcholine ; Botulinum Toxins* ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; Chin ; Clostridium botulinum ; Facial Expression ; Foot ; Forehead ; Masks ; Masseter Muscle ; Nasolabial Fold ; Neck ; Neuromuscular Junction ; Paralysis ; Surgery, Plastic*

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To establish the genotype-specific targets plasmids and engineered E.coli strains of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) types B and E based on reverse genetics.

<b>METHODSb>The gene sequences of BoNT were obtained from GenBank and analyzed using DNAMAN, Lasergene, Vector NTI and BLAST. Two target fragments of BoNT/B and BoNT/E were anchored and then synthesized as 5 and 10 short DNA single strands, respectively. The full-length target sequences were amplified by overlapping PCR and subcloned into pMD 18-T vector, and the recombinant plasmids were identified by restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing.

<b>RESULTSb>Sixty full-length sequences of 4 types of BoNT, namely types A, B, E, and F, were available in GenBank. Two target fragments, BoNT/B of 215 bp and BoNT/E of 360 bp, and their specific primer pairs were anchored after sequence analysis. pMD 18-T-BoNT/B and pMD 18-T-BoNT/E containing these two target sequences were confirmed.

<b>CONCLUSIONb>The engineered plasmids and E.coli stains containing the genotype-specific target fragments of BoNT/B and BoNT/E have been constructed successfully.

Base Sequence ; Botulinum Toxins ; genetics ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; Clostridium botulinum ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Gene Targeting ; Genotype ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Botulinum toxin type A is a polypeptide neurotoxin derived from the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Safe and effective Botulinum type A toxin has found clinical application as a treatment for strabismus, blepharospasm, palmar hyperhidrosis. Now this toxin is widely used for improving the facial rhytides cosmetically. Author applicated this toxin not only for facial rejuvenation but also for improving for masseter muscle hypertrophy, facial asymmetries after orthognathic surgery, dysmorphis caused by facial nerve paralysis, TMD and habitual TMJ luxation. Author report clinical results with literature review.]]>
Blepharospasm ; Botulinum Toxins ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; Clostridium botulinum ; Facial Asymmetry ; Facial Nerve ; Hyperhidrosis ; Hypertrophy ; Masseter Muscle ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Paralysis ; Rejuvenation ; Strabismus ; Temporomandibular Joint