Work

Effect of Clostridium perfringens type D toxin on Caenorhabditis elegans

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The search for an alternative in vivo diagnostic method for Clostridium perfringens toxinotype D (CPD) aimed to evaluate the susceptibility of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans CF512 CPD as a substitute for conventional biological models. The LD50 of the activated filtrate from CPD strain 426 was determined using a 96-well plate method over 23 h. We performed seroneutralization test with polyclonal anti-CPD toxin to determine the ND50. We observed significant differences between the toxin as the only factor and the toxin combined with polyclonal antibodies between 11 and 14 h after the test began. The evaluation of CPD toxin toxicity, as indicated by the survival or death of the nematode, suggests the potential utility of this model for future diagnostic applications. Although these initial findings provide insight into the CPD toxin's effect in this model, other toxins in the filtrate caused delayed effects. Future investigations employing purified toxins are expected to yield more precise data regarding mortality and neutralization. This study constitutes the inaugural evaluation of CPD effects within the C. elegans model , thereby offering direct implications for the biological diagnosis of this toxin and potentially enhancing the accuracy and efficacy of enterotoxemia detection and treatment.

Source: NAM journal.

DOI: 10.1016/j.namjnl.2025.100038

Authors: Ana María Delia Pereyra, Ximena Blanco Crivelli, Mariana Sanin, Adriana Bentancor, Cecilia Cundon

Institution: Universidad de Buenos Aires

Language: English

Topic: Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,000