Clostridium
Clostridium is a genus of bacteria that form spores and thrive without oxygen.
Several species cause serious diseases in humans: *Clostridium botulinum* produces botulism toxin, *C. tetani* causes tetanus, and *C. difficile* (often called C. diff) causes severe intestinal infections, particularly in hospital patients after antibiotic treatment.
The genus includes hundreds of species, most harmless.
Muscle-stiffening bacterial disease
- botulismBacterial food poisoning
- gangreneTissue death from bloodlessness
- colitisInflamed large intestine
- difficileChallenging, not simple
infection · wound · sepsis · necrosis · abscess · cellulitis · diarrhea · contamination
Bacterial dormancy structure
- prokaryoteCell without nuclear membrane
- bacillusCylindrical bacterial cell
- rod-shapedLong and cylindrical
- genusTaxonomic rank above species
anaerobe · microorganism · colony · agar · cultivation · microbiology · gut · soil
Containing no O2
- obligateCommit by necessity
- anoxiaAbsence of oxygen supply
- hypoxiaInsufficient tissue oxygenation
- subsurfaceBelow the outer layer
decomposition · biodegradation · respiration · biochemical · reducing · redox
Paralysis-causing bacterial species
- neurotoxinPoison attacking neural tissue
- cytotoxinAgent destroying cells
- exotoxinPoison bacteria secrete
- toxoidNeutralized poison retaining immunogenicity
antitoxin · paralysis · flaccid · spastic · lethal · poisoning · toxemia · acetylcholine
Volatile organic solvent
- butanolFour-carbon alcohol solvent
- ethanolDrinkable volatile spirit
- biofuelFuel from organic sources
- biogasFuel from anaerobic decomposition
industrial · bioreactor · substrate · glycolysis · metabolism · biomass · renewable · biosynthesis
tetanus
Muscle-stiffening bacterial disease
- botulismBacterial food poisoning
- gangreneTissue death from bloodlessness
- colitisInflamed large intestine
difficile · infection · wound · sepsis · necrosis · abscess · cellulitis · diarrhea · contamination · foodborne
endospore
Bacterial dormancy structure
- prokaryoteCell without nuclear membrane
- bacillusCylindrical bacterial cell
- rod-shapedLong and cylindrical
genus · anaerobe · microorganism · colony · agar · cultivation · microbiology · gut · soil · flora
oxygen-free
Containing no O2
subsurface · decomposition · biodegradation · respiration · biochemical · reducing · redox
botulinum
Paralysis-causing bacterial species
- neurotoxinPoison attacking neural tissue
- cytotoxinAgent destroying cells
- exotoxinPoison bacteria secrete
toxoid · antitoxin · paralysis · flaccid · spastic · lethal · poisoning · toxemia · acetylcholine · Botox
acetone
Volatile organic solvent
biogas · industrial · bioreactor · substrate · glycolysis · metabolism · biomass · renewable · biosynthesis
- GeneraHomo, Quercus, Rosa, Capra, Lepus
- microbiologybacteria, bacterium, microbe, microbes, microorganisms
- bacteriaE. coli, Salmonella, salmonella, Pseudomonas, staphylococci
- Pathogenspathogen, germ, germs, bacteria, bacterium
- Food Microbiologybacterial growth, microbial growth, spoilage, pathogens, pathogen
- AnaerobesBifidobacterium, bifidobacteria, fermenters, fermenter