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Clostridium

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I chose Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which causes botulism, a serious, sometimes fatal condition. There are five main types of botulism including foodborne, wound, infant, adult intestinal toxemia, and iatrogenic (occurring from accidental overdose of botulinum toxin) (Nantel, 1999).
Clostridium botulinum is a gram positive, anaerobic (i.e. grows best in low-oxygen conditions) rod-shaped bacterium. The species forms spores which allow the bacteria to survive in a dormant state until exposed to conditions that can support their growth. Botulinum neurotoxin is absorbed from the intestinal tract or from the infected wound site and transported to the neuromuscular endings (Nantel, 1999). There it blocks excitatory synaptic transmission and the release of acetylcholine, causing paralysis.
Symptoms of botulism include double vision, blurred vision, dry mouth, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, and descending paralysis (Nantel, 1999). If left untreated, botulism may ultimately cause paralysis of the muscles necessary for respiration, leading to respiratory failure and death.
Sources:
Nantel, A. (1999). “Clostridium botulinum.” World Health Organization. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/csr/delibepidemics/clostridiumbotulism.pdf

WILEY PLUS: Black, J. G. (2008). Microbiology: Principles and explorations (7th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

I chose the bacterium Streptococcal which causes strep throat. The most common type is by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABS). Group A strep is found on the surface of the skin and inside the throat and a common cause of infection in adults and children. Strep can be passed from person to person. When a person infected with strep throat breathes, coughs, or sneezes, tiny droplets containing the strep bacteria are released into the air and are breathed in by other people. Other types of strep that can sometimes infect the throat are groups C and G strep bacteria. (WebMD, 2008). Group B strep is a bacterium which usually live harmlessly inside the digestive system and (in women) in the vagina. Strep B tend to only affect newborn babies and usually cause more serious types of infection.
A strep infection causes the throat (pharynx) and the tonsils or adenoids to become irritated, inflamed, and painful. Common symptoms of strep throat in children and adults include severe and sudden sore throat without coughing, sneezing, or other cold symptoms. It also has the symptoms of pain and difficulty swallowing, fever over 101 F with swollen lymph nodes in the neck with white or yellow spots or coating on the throat and tonsils.

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