The following is correct about the genus Clostridium:
A) It displays a wide range of fermentation pathways.
B) Harmless Clostridium species grow in the colon of human infants shortly after birth.
C) It consists of anaerobic spore formers.
D) C. difficile grows in the intestine of patients in which enteric bacteria have been eliminated.
E) All of the above.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

All the options are correct. Clostridium species exhibit a variety of fermentation pathways, some of which are beneficial, like C. butyricum for the production of butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid. harmless Clostridium species establish a permanent niche in the colon of human infants within days of birth. Clostridium species form spores that are resistant to environmental stress like UV radiation, heat, and desiccation. C. difficile is an opportunistic pathogen that flourishes in the gut after the host microbiome is disrupted by the use of antibiotics, leading to antibiotic-associated diarrhea and colitis.

The Following Is Correct About the Genus Clostridium