Clostridium sporogenes

Clostridium sporogenes
Clostridium botulinum stained with gentian violet.
Scientific classification
Domain:	Bacteria
Class:	Clostridia
Order:	Clostridiales
Family:	Clostridiaceae
Genus:	Clostridium
Species:	C. sporogenes
Binomial name
Clostridium sporogenes (Metchnikoff 1908) Bergey et al. 1923[1]

Clostridium sporogenes is the name given to strains of Clostridium botulinum that do not produce botulinum neurotoxins. Like other strains of C. botulinum, it is an anaerobic Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium that produces oval, subterminal endospores and is commonly found in soil. It is being investigated as a way to deliver cancer-treating drugs to tumours in patients.^[2]

C. sporogenes is often used as a surrogate for C. botulinum when testing the efficacy of commercial sterilisation.^[3]

References

1. ^ "Clostridium sporogenes". US Department of Energy. http://doi.namesforlife.com/10.1601/nm.4021. Retrieved 5 September 2011. 
2. ^ BBC News "Soil bacterium helps kill cancers."
3. ^ Development of novel biological indicators to evaluate the efficacy of microwave processing. Proquest. pp. 7. http://books.google.com/books?id=ZazXjNALezUC.