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.

产气荚膜梭菌（Clostridium perfringens）是一类生长迅速的病原菌，已知可分泌逾20种毒性毒素组成的毒力武器库。一个多世纪以来，该菌与动物和人类的多种肠道疾病存在密切关联。近年来基因组分析与实验研究体系的进步，使得重新审视这一兼具临床与兽医研究价值的病原菌恰逢其时。本综述将首先总结当前学界对该肠道病原菌的基因组学特征、毒力相关因子（包括其抗菌潜力与分泌毒素）的认知，随后梳理其最新临床流行病学特征，以及其在多种重要人畜共患肠道疾病（包括早产儿坏死性小肠结肠炎）发病机制中的生物学作用。最后，本文将重点阐明与产气荚膜梭菌感染相关的若干关键未决问题，并探讨其对未来研究方向的启示。