False-colour transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of Clostridium perfringens (formerly C. welchii). Here, cytoplasm and the cell wall are clearly se

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False-colour transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of Clostridium perfringens (formerly C. welchii). Here, cytoplasm and the cell wall are clearly seen. This Gram-positive, spore-forming soil bacterium causes blood poisoning, types of food poisoning and gas gangrene in humans. Exo- toxins which it secretes (alpha-toxin) can digest muscle and other tissues, infecting wounds with gas gangrene. The intestine of domestic animals often contains C. perfringens, and exotoxin conta- mination of raw meat causes food poisoning. Human blood poisoning occurs when the bacterium enters the blood. Magnification: x5, 700 at 6x7cm size.

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Size: 3898px × 4847px
Photo credit: © CNRI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: bacteria, bacterial, bacteriology, bacterium, blood, causin, clostridium, electron, food, gangrene, gas, infect, micro-organisms, microbe, microbes, microbiology, micrograph, perfringens, poiso, poisoning, tem, transmission, type, welchii