ExplanationIntermediate
How does the bacterium Clostridium cause gas gangrene according to the chapter?
Clostridium causes gas gangrene by secreting enzymes that dissolve the material holding muscle cells together, allowing the bacteria to spread easily. It also produces gas as it digests muscle cells, which presses against blood vessels and shuts off the blood supply, leading to tissue death.
Key points
- Clostridium secretes enzymes that damage tissue and facilitate bacterial spread.
- The bacterium produces gas while digesting muscle cells, which compresses blood vessels.
- The lack of blood supply results in tissue death, characteristic of gas gangrene.
Source:Biology of Humans Concepts, Applications, and Issues by Judith Goodenough and Betty McGuire· SPECIAL TOPIC: Infectious Disease· p. 293–298
Biology of Humans Concepts, Applications, and Issues by Judith Goodenough and Betty McGuire
Judith Goodenough and Betty McGuire
6th Edition