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Clostridium perfringens
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<p><i>Clostridium perfringens</i> (formerly known as <i>C. <a href="/facts/William_H._Welch/UIhTzz2f">welchii</a></i>, or <i>Bacillus welchii</i>) is a <a href="/facts/Gram-positive/H6WYQ17e">Gram-positive</a>, bacillus (rod-shaped), <a href="/facts/Anaerobic_bacterium/bhQnlqCq">anaerobic</a>, <a href="/facts/Endospore/UKWvt6Qu">spore-forming</a> <a href="/facts/Pathogenic_bacterium/X5QcVN5j">pathogenic bacterium</a> of the genus <i><a href="/facts/Clostridium/HRXJyYCn">Clostridium</a></i>. <i>C. perfringens</i> is ever-present in nature and can be found as a normal component of decaying vegetation, <a href="/facts/Pelagic_sediment/D286yP33">marine sediment</a>, the <a href="/facts/Gut_flora/Xy1IWzSP">intestinal tract of humans</a> and other <a href="/facts/Vertebrate/tT54FSTT">vertebrates</a>, <a href="/facts/Insect/IgDNvnUL">insects</a>, and <a href="/facts/Soil/5Ddpr3QM">soil</a>. It has the shortest reported <a href="/facts/Generation_time/J7m8p79J">generation time</a> of any organism at 6.3 minutes in <a href="/facts/Thioglycolate_broth/2h8CAlH0">thioglycolate</a> medium. </p><p><i>Clostridium perfringens</i> is one of the most common causes of <a href="/facts/Food_poisoning/9lxqlJqg">food poisoning</a> in the United States, alongside <a href="/facts/Norovirus/nqkVRj8I">norovirus</a>, <i><a href="/facts/Salmonella/2SkCRybG">Salmonella</a></i>, <i><a href="/facts/Campylobacter/lFSkgKUp">Campylobacter</a></i>, and <i><a href="/facts/Staphylococcus_aureus/9yDVBMsc">Staphylococcus aureus</a></i>. However, it can sometimes be ingested and cause no harm. </p><p>Infections induced by <i>C. perfringens</i> are associated with tissue <a href="/facts/Necrosis/zCPsTeWx">necrosis</a>, <a href="/facts/Bacteremia/J0C082Sg">bacteremia</a>, emphysematous <a href="/facts/Cholecystitis/7XK7kF9S">cholecystitis</a>, and <a href="/facts/Gas_gangrene/jc1ULMXc">gas gangrene</a>, which is also known as clostridial <a href="/facts/Myonecrosis/jc1ULMXc">myonecrosis</a>. The specific name, <i>perfringens,</i> is derived from the <a href="/facts/Latin/pM3Kge85">Latin</a> <i>per</i> (meaning "through") and <i>frango</i> ("burst"), referring to the disruption of tissue that occurs during gas gangrene. Gas gangrene is caused by alpha toxin, or <a href="/facts/Clostridium_perfringens_alpha_toxin/t0bHpETr">α-toxin</a>, that embeds itself into the plasma membrane of cells and disrupts normal cellular function by altering membrane structure. Research suggests that <i>C. perfringens</i> is capable of engaging in polymicrobial <a href="/facts/Anaerobic_infection/v0rJ0naT">anaerobic infections</a>. It is commonly encountered in <a href="/facts/Infection/182XrncP">infections</a> as a component of the normal <a href="/facts/Flora_(microbiology)/YnAvJQvV">flora</a>. In this case, its role in disease is minor. </p><p><i>C. perfringens</i> toxins are a result of horizontal gene transfer of a neighboring cell's plasmids. Shifts in genomic make-up are common for this species of bacterium and contribute to novel pathogenesis. Major toxins are expressed differently in certain populations of <i>C. perfringens;</i> these populations are organized into strains based on their expressed toxins. This especially impacts the food industry, as controlling this microbe is important for preventing foodborne illness. Novel findings in <i>C. perfringens</i> hyper-motility, which was provisionally thought as non-motile, have been discovered as well. Findings in metabolic processes reveal more information concerning <i>C. perfringens</i> pathogenic nature. </p>