By: Ellie McCarthy AP Biology – Period 1&2

Domain: Bacteria Kingdom: Bacteria Division: Firmicutes Class: Clostridia Order: Clostridiales Family: Clostridiaceae Genus: Clostridium Species: C. botulinum Binomial name: Clostridium botulinum

Gram positive Shape: rod (bacilli) Obligate anaerobe (chemautotroph) Found in soil Form in colonies Motile

Produces oval, subterminal endospores Can survive in most environments and are very hard to kill Produces botulinum neurotoxins types A-G Called botulin Extremely toxic Types A, B, E and F affect humans Types C and D affect animals Type G is unknown

Disease Causes the disease botulism Results from the ingestion of the neurotoxin (exotoxin) botulin released by C. botulinum while growing on food Endospores frequently found in honey Neurotoxins are absorbed into blood stream, affecting the nervous system by preventing the release of aceytlcholine Symptoms usually begin between 12 and 72 hours after ingestion Lasts from 1 to 10 days If not caught early and treated properly, death results Nausea Vomiting Fatigue Dizziness Double vision Drooping eyelids Slurred speech Difficulty swallowing Dryness of skin, mouth, and throat No fever Muscle weakness Flaccid paralysis Starts with eyes and face, then progresses downward Eventual asphyxia (death) Symptoms

Treatment Antibiotics ineffective, antitoxins more effective Stop exotoxins in the bloodstream from further affecting the nervous system Supportive treatment in an intensive care ward Ventilation may be needed in cases of respiratory failure Recovery takes weeks because nerve endings must rejuvenate Food-borne botulism Most common Contamination of agricultural products and seafood Under-processed canned foods or can leakage Incorrectly home-canned foods Wound botulism Occurs when C. botulinum cells affect an open wound Exotoxins travel to the bloodstream and then affect the nervous system Infant botulism Rare Symptoms often take weeks to occur Presents with constipation, tiredness and inability to feed, followed by respiratory failure Types

1895 – First recognized and isolated by Emile van Ermengem 1928 – P. Tessemer Snipe and Hermann Sommer able to purify the botulism toxin 1960s – Alan Scott and Edward Schantz began experimenting with botulism toxin type A (BTX-A) for therapeutic purposes Cosmetically – used in Botox and other cosmetic formulas to treat frown lines and wrinkles Therapeutically – muscle pain disorders, upper motor neuron syndrome, blepharospasm, strabismus and hemifacial spasm

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