Comparative pathogenomic analysis reveals a highly tetanus toxin-producing clade of Clostridium tetani isolates in Japan

is a spore-forming, anaerobic bacterium that produces a toxin causing muscle stiffness and paralysis. Tetanus is preventable with the toxoid vaccine, but it remains a significant public health threat in regions with low vaccine coverage. However, there are relatively few isolates and limited genomic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:mSphere 2023-12, Vol.8 (6), p.e0036923-e0036923
Main Authors: Shitada, Chie, Sekizuka, Tsuyoshi, Yamamoto, Akihiko, Sakamoto, Chiyomi, Hashino, Masanori, Kuroda, Makoto, Takahashi, Motohide
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibodies
Antimicrobial resistance
Base Composition
Clostridium tetani
Clostridium tetani - genetics
ELISA
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
Evolution
Gene expression
Genetic diversity
genome analysis
Genomes
Genomic analysis
Humans
Immunology
Infections
Japan
mice experiment
Microbial Pathogenesis
Paralysis
Phylogeny
Public health
Research Article
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Surveys
Tetanus
Tetanus - microbiology
Tetanus toxin
Tetanus Toxin - genetics
transcriptome
Vaccines
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Description
Summary:is a spore-forming, anaerobic bacterium that produces a toxin causing muscle stiffness and paralysis. Tetanus is preventable with the toxoid vaccine, but it remains a significant public health threat in regions with low vaccine coverage. However, there are relatively few isolates and limited genomic information available worldwide. In Japan, about 100 cases are reported each year, but there have been no nationwide surveys of isolates, and no genomic information from Japanese isolates has been published. In our study, we analyzed the genomes of 151 strains from a limited survey of soil in Kumamoto, Japan. Our findings revealed a high degree of genetic diversity, and we also identified a subset of strains that produced significantly more toxin, which provides new insights into the pathogenesis of tetanus. Our findings lay the foundation for future studies to investigate the distribution and evolution of in Japan and neighboring countries.
ISSN:2379-5042
2379-5042
DOI:10.1128/msphere.00369-23