Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
Corynebacterium diphtheriae
Corynebacterium diphtheriae is a topic covered in the Johns Hopkins ABX Guide.
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MICROBIOLOGY
- Pleomorphic Gram-positive bacillus that is club-shaped, appears like Chinese characters on Gram stain [Fig1].
- Facultative anaerobe.
- Humans are only known hosts.
- Diphtheria caused only by exotoxin-producing strains of C. diphtheriae.
- Three Corynebacterium strains may produce diphtheria toxin:
- C. diphtheriae (epidemic diphtheria w/ person-person spread)
- C. ulcerans
- C. pseudotuberculosis
- Both C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis are less common and associated with farm/dairy contacts.
- Virulent C. diphtheria strains carry a bacteriophage with the diphtheria toxin gene. Without this bacteriophage, the microbe is unable to cause serious disease.
- Culture best performed on tellurite-selective media, e.g., Tinsdale agar.
- Confirmation of toxin production by the demonstration of an immunoprecipitation band done at CDC.
-- To view the remaining sections of this topic, please log in or purchase a subscription --
MICROBIOLOGY
- Pleomorphic Gram-positive bacillus that is club-shaped, appears like Chinese characters on Gram stain [Fig1].
- Facultative anaerobe.
- Humans are only known hosts.
- Diphtheria caused only by exotoxin-producing strains of C. diphtheriae.
- Three Corynebacterium strains may produce diphtheria toxin:
- C. diphtheriae (epidemic diphtheria w/ person-person spread)
- C. ulcerans
- C. pseudotuberculosis
- Both C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis are less common and associated with farm/dairy contacts.
- Virulent C. diphtheria strains carry a bacteriophage with the diphtheria toxin gene. Without this bacteriophage, the microbe is unable to cause serious disease.
- Culture best performed on tellurite-selective media, e.g., Tinsdale agar.
- Confirmation of toxin production by the demonstration of an immunoprecipitation band done at CDC.
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Last updated: June 6, 2020
Citation
Auwaerter, Paul. "Corynebacterium Diphtheriae." Johns Hopkins ABX Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2020. Johns Hopkins Guides, www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540144/all/Corynebacterium_diphtheriae.
Auwaerter P. Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2020. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540144/all/Corynebacterium_diphtheriae. Accessed March 30, 2023.
Auwaerter, P. (2020). Corynebacterium diphtheriae. In Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540144/all/Corynebacterium_diphtheriae
Auwaerter P. Corynebacterium Diphtheriae [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2020. [cited 2023 March 30]. Available from: https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540144/all/Corynebacterium_diphtheriae.
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T1 - Corynebacterium diphtheriae
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A1 - Auwaerter,Paul,M.D.
Y1 - 2020/06/06/
BT - Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
UR - https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540144/all/Corynebacterium_diphtheriae
PB - The Johns Hopkins University
DB - Johns Hopkins Guides
DP - Unbound Medicine
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