An update on the human and animal enteric pathogen <i>Clostridium perfringens</i>

<i>Clostridium perfringens</i>, a rapid-growing pathogen known to secrete an arsenal of &gt;20 virulent toxins, has been associated with intestinal diseases in both animals and humans throughout the past century. Recent advances in genomic analysis and experimental systems make it timely to re-visit this clinically and veterinary important pathogen. This Review will summarise our understanding of the genomics and virulence-linked factors, including antimicrobial potentials and secreted toxins of this gut pathogen, and then its up-to-date clinical epidemiology and biological role in the pathogenesis of several important human and animal-associated intestinal diseases, including pre-term necrotising enterocolitis. Finally, we highlight some of the important unresolved questions in relation to <i>C. perfringens</i>-mediated infections, and implications for future research directions.