Morphological Examination of Clostridium sordellii Spores and Characterisation of Outer Spore Proteins

Clostridium sordellii is a human and animal pathogen with a mortality rate approaching 100%. Crucial to the infectious cycle of this microbe is its ability to produce a form of itself that is difficult to eradicate, called a spore. This thesis describes the C. sordellii spore structure and shows that it is composed of multiple layers that contribute to its strength. Proteins were identified in the outer spore layers which are critical for spore structural integrity and viability, and for the clearance of bacteria from the infected gastrointestinal tract, yielding a greater understanding of this bacterium and its spore form.