Discipline: Ecology Environmental and Earth Sciences
Subcategory: Microbiology/Immunology/Virology
Session: 3
Room: Exhibit Hall A
Katelyn Mason - University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Co-Author(s): Miseon Park,Sung Guk Kim Ph. D, U.S Food and Drug Administration, National Center for Toxicological Research-Jefferson Labs, Division of Microbiology/Office of Scientific Coordination, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR 72079
Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) is an anaerobic, spore-forming ubiquitous bacterium that has the potential to cause infections in humans and animals and food poisoning. The objective of this study was to successfully characterize Clostridium perfringens bacterial isolates in rhesus macaque’s fecal samples. We isolated eight strains of C.perfringens from different Rhesus macaque monkey’s fecal samples and used to reference strains ATCC 3626 and ATCC 13124. We conducted toxinotyping and other minor toxin assays secreted in the culture media during the growth. C. perfringens strains are classified into five toxinotypes (A, B, C, D and E) based on the presence of four major toxins (α, β, ϵ and ι ). PCR primers for toxinotyping were prepared from published sequences of the genes. . Five of eight isolates and ATCC 3626 were Type B. Three of eight isolates and ATCC 13124 were Type C. Type B and C Clostridium perfringens has the potential to cause necrotizing enterocolitis. Seven isolates were enterotoxin gene positive in total. We compared the production of clostripain, collagenase, hyaluronidase, sialidase, perfringolysin and phospholipase C from the culture supernatant using specific substrates. They were not strong producers of those toxins compare to ATCC 13124 and ATCC 3626. No perfringolysin activity was observed. None of the isolates showed resistance to tetracycline, erythromycin, ampicillin, and minocycline.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): FDA's Office of Minority Health
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Sung Guk Kim Ph.D., SungGuk.Kim@fda.hhs.gov
Role: I did my entire research project.