Clostridium perfringens is responsible for a range of human diseases, including gas gangrene, food poisoning. The most common type of illness caused by Clostridium perfringens is food poisoning, which results from ingestion of contaminated food that has been improperly cooked or stored.
Treatment for Clostridium perfringens infections typically involves antibiotics, such as penicillin or metronidazole, as well as supportive care to manage symptoms and prevent complications. Prevention measures include proper food handling and storage practices, as well as good personal hygiene.
Dr Anukriti Mathur, from the ANU John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR), indicated that they found the bacteria creates 2 toxins behaving in different ways and attack the body with the application of a two-pronged approach.
“The first toxin punches holes into the cell surface, while the other enters the cell and damages the cell’s internal structures.”
The authors of the research define the NLRP3 capability to find these toxins comparing it to the analogy of a security system for a home which doubles as a fire detector as well.
Co-author Callum Kay, who is from JCSMR, as well indicated that a fire detector, similar to NLRP3, is extremely flexible and able to protect the house, which is in this case, our body,”
Kay further pointed out if this fire detector was so sensitive that it misinterpreted smoke emissions from a barbecue for a fire. This would result in the alarm continuously ringing and bringing about chaos for the homeowner.
“We found that NLRP3 acts in a similar way; the protein can become overactive and trigger a disproportionate response that causes more harm than good and can lead to sepsis, which can be life-threatening.”
Scientists and researchers have often pointed out the how damage from an unregulated immune response can cause more damage from foreign pathogen, making immune regulation critical.
The activation of the defensive response had the ANU researchers further discover a non-identified part of the NLRP3 protein to become “over-activated” and improperly responsive in the Clostridium perfringens infection in prior occasions. As this occurs, the body’s safety mechanisms that are formed for our defense fail to act. This can bring about potentially fatal conditions like sepsis.
The ANU made use of drugs to diminish the immune system’s defensive response triggered by NLRP3. This assisted the researchers decipher the molecular mechanisms that result in the toxins to triggering the alarm system of the proteins.
Gaining further knowledge of these mechanisms’ scientists can commence the unveiling of methods for the formation of new therapies that defeat bacteria, for which present treatment options are restricted and ineffective.
Dr Mathur also indicated that death rates for muscle necrosis, resulting from the Clostridium perfringens, remains extremely high, going above 50%.
“By understanding the role NLRP3 plays in detecting these deadly toxins and the defensive mechanisms it activates to protect the body, we can start to develop new techniques that target the protein and ‘dampen’ its overactive response.
“This would not only help prevent the body from triggering extreme and potentially deadly reactions to infection, but it could also help us find new ways to outsmart the bacteria and potentially develop new treatments.”
