This work describes novel genetic tools for use in Clostridium thermocellum that allow creation of unmarked mutations while using a replicating plasmid. The strategy employed counter selections developed from the native C. thermocellum hpt gene and the Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum tdk gene, and was used to delete the genes for both lactate dehydrogenase (Ldh) and phosphotransacetylase ...

Tetanus is a vaccinepreventable disease that yearly causes a total of 309,000 deaths. Reports showed up to 1 million cases annually, mostly in underdeveloped countries. Clostridium tetani, the causative organism, is widespread in the faeces of domestic animals and humans, while spores of C. tetani are abundant in soil and in the environment surrounding the habitation of humans and animals. In d...

In California, black tar heroin (BTH) use among injection drug users (IDUs) has resulted in an increased number of cases of wound botulism due to Clostridium botulinum, tetanus due to Clostridium tetani, and necrotizing soft-tissue infections due to a variety of clostridia. From December 1999 to April 2000, nine IDUs in Ventura County, California, developed necrotizing fasciitis; 4 died. Cultur...

When an individual has been given one or more injections of tetanus toxoid and, at a later date, is injured and possibly infected with Clostridium tetani, what further precautions should be taken: (1) Administer antitoxin? (2) Give another injection of tetanus toxoid to accelerate the production of antitoxin? (3) Give no further treatment, depending on his present immunity to take care of the i...

The classical concept of exotoxin implies that the toxin is actively excreted into the external environment as a direct product of the organism's metabolic processes. On the other hand, endotoxin is assumed to be a structural component of the cell. From the many reports during the past decade it is apparent that this sharp distinction between the extracellular and intracellular nature of these ...