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DOMINIC DODD - What Exactly Is C. Difficile?

C. difficile is a type of bacteria that can cause dangerous infections in humans. It gets its name because it was difficult to grow in labs. While it has a weakness to oxygen, it can form protective coverings and survive in various environments. C. difficile normally does not cause issues, but when the gut microbiome is disrupted by antibiotics, it can multiply and release toxins that damage the gut lining.

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52 views

DOMINIC DODD - What Exactly Is C. Difficile?

C. difficile is a type of bacteria that can cause dangerous infections in humans. It gets its name because it was difficult to grow in labs. While it has a weakness to oxygen, it can form protective coverings and survive in various environments. C. difficile normally does not cause issues, but when the gut microbiome is disrupted by antibiotics, it can multiply and release toxins that damage the gut lining.

Uploaded by

836616477
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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10/14/2020

What exactly is
C. Difficile?

Read the article below. Then, use


information from the article to
answer the questions on the last
page of this document. Highlight the
information from the text that
helped you answer the question in
the appropriate color (see each
question for the appropriate color).

Please let me know if you have any


trouble!
Bacteria:
C. difficile
When scientists first discovered C. difficile (cee-diff-
uh-SEEL), they named these bacteria difficile (which
means “difficult”) because the bacteria were so
hard to grow in the lab. Today, C. difficile might be
considered
© 2018 The Regents of the Universitydifficult
of California.in
All another way:
rights reserved. it causes
Permission granted tohard-
purchaser to photocopy for classroom use. Image Credit: Science Source

to-treat gut infections that kill thousands of people


every year. Because it causes potentially deadly
C. difficile bacteria can cause dangerous infections in
infections, C. difficile is sometimes referred to as
humans. They are between 1 and 4 micrometers long.
“killer bacteria.”
(This photo was taken in black and white; colors were
added to make it easier to see.)
Environment
Although difficult to grow in a lab, C. difficile bacteria
are very common in nature. These microorganisms
are especially numerous in soil, where they use
nearly anything as food. They can also survive in the
environment of the human gut.

C. difficile has a surprising weakness: oxygen can kill


it. However, it also has an amazing defense. When C.
difficile is exposed to oxygen in the air or other
dangers, it shrinks and forms a tough outer covering.
In this state, C. difficile can survive oxygen, hand
cleaners, acids, and even many antibiotics. Once the
danger passes, the bacteria return to normal and
begin multiplying.

Normal Role in Humans


Most healthy people do not have any C. difficile
bacteria in their microbiomes. Even if someone
accidentally swallows some C. difficile bacteria, the
other bacteria in the gut keep the number of C.
difficile low, and therefore safe. C. difficile cannot
survive when there is a lot of competition from other
bacteria for food and space. Exposed to the air on a steel surface, these C. difficile
bacteria are shrinking and forming protective
coverings. (This photo is zoomed in much closer than
the previous photo.)

C. difficile

Bacteria:

Bacteria: C. difficile 1
Role in Disease
When sick people take antibiotics, helpful
microorganisms in the gut are killed along with the
harmful ones. With the helpful gut microorganisms
out of the way, C. difficile can multiply rapidly and
take over the gut microbiome. The growing
population of C. difficile produces powerful
poisons, which irritate the cells of the gut lining and
eventually cause the cells to die. C. difficile bacteria
will then eat the dead cells—and may even escape
through the damaged gut into the blood, spreading
the infection. C. difficile infections can be very
dangerous, and in some cases end in death.
Bloating, diarrhea, and stomach pain are the most
This photo was taken inside a healthy human gut. The gut
common symptoms. By causing
constant irritation, C. difficile can make it harder for lining is smooth and healthy. (No bacteria are visible in
the immune system to function. Antibiotics can kill C. the photo because they are too small to see in this view.)
difficile, but until the person’s normal microbiome is © 2018 The Regen
restored, the infection can come back.

This photo shows the gut of a human with a


C. difficile infection. The gut lining is irritated and
damaged. (No bacteria are visible in the photo because
they are too small to see in this view.)

C. difficile

2 Bacteria: C. difficile
Bacteria:
Let’s think
about this!
1. How did the bacteria C.
3. How does C. Difficile kill
Difficile get its name? Answer
healthy cells? Answer this
this question below, then
question below, then highlight
highlight the information from
the information from the
the article where you found
article where you found this in
this in Yellow.
Red

2. What are the two places the


4. What are the most common
article mentions C. Difficile can
symptoms of C. Difficile
live? Answer this question
infection? Answer this
below, then highlight the
question below, then highlight
information from the article
the information from the
where you found this in Blue.
article where you found this in
Green.
You are all
finished! Please
submit this
document and
have a great
Wednesday!

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