Research Interests
  • Our laboratory studies the pathogenesis of Clostridium perfringens which is an important cause of enteric and histotoxic infections in humans and domestic animals. The virulence of this gram-positive, sporeforming anaerobe is largely attributable to its prolific toxin-producing abilities.

  • About 5% of all C. perfringens isolates produce an enterotoxin, referred to as CPE. We are currently studying how CPE acts to cause the GI symptoms of the third most common foodborne illness in the USA and many cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Our lab is also examining the molecular epidemiology of cpe-positive isolates in order to identify their reservoirs/transmission mechanisms. These studies will also provide insights into the phenotypic and genotypic properties of these isolates that are important for causing GI disease.

  • Our lab is also beginning to study the isolates of C. perfringens that produce epsilon toxin, which is a class B select agent, and beta toxins. Our initial focus is to gain an understanding of the large plasmids encoding these toxins (and several other C. perfringens toxins). For example, we hope to determine whether the epsilon toxin and beta toxin plasmids are transferable between C. perfringens isolates, whether these plasmids encode other virulence genes, and whether expression of these toxins is modulated by other virulence plasmid-encoded genes.

 
Selected Publications
  1. Smedley JG 3rd, Saputo J, Parker JC, Fernandez-Miyakawa ME, McClane BA, Robertson S, Uzal FA. Non-cytotoxic Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) variants localize CPE intestinal binding and demonstrate a relationship between CPE-induced cytotoxicity and enterotoxicity. Infect Immun. 2008 May 27.
  2. Li J, McClane BA. A novel small acid soluble protein variant is important for spore resistance of most Clostridium perfringens food poisoning isolates. PLoS Pathog. 2008 May 2;4(5):e 1000056.
  3. Carman RJ, Sayeed S, Li J, Genheimer CW, Hiltonsmith MF, Wilkins TD, McClane BA. Clostridium perfringens toxin genotypes in the feces of healthy North Americans. Anaerobe. 2008 Feb 7.
  4. Sayeed S, Uzal FA, Fisher DJ, Saputo J, Vidal JE, Chen Y, Gupta P, Rood JI, McClane BA. Beta toxin is essential for the intestinal virulence of Clostridium perfringens type C disease isolate CN3685 in a rabbit ileal loop model. Mol Microbiol. 2008 Jan;67(1):15-30.
  5. Van Itallie CM, Betts L, Smedley JG 3rd, McClane BA, Anderson JM. Structure of the claudin-binding domain of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin. J Biol Chem. 2008 Jan 4;283(1):268-74.

    Complete Publication Listing
  
Grant Support
  1. NIH/NIAID: The mechanism of action of Clostridium perfringens exterotoxin.
    Principal Investigator
  2. NRIGCP: Molecular epidemiology of Clostridium perfringens type A food poisoning.
    Principal Investigator
  3. NIH/NIAID: Clostridium perfringens type B-D virulence plasmids.
    Principal Investigator
  
Other Links
MMG Faculty Webpage
McClane Laboratory Webpage
University of Pittsburgh		  
   
     
  Bruce A McClane, Ph.D., Full Professor
Office:  W1147 BST
Lab:W1114 and W1115 BST
Phone:412-648-9022
Fax: 412:624-1401
bamcc@pitt.edu
 
Academic Affiliations
  • Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics

 
Education
  • BS: Penn State University

  • Ph.D. Penn State University

  • Post-doc: New York University School of Medicine
 
Lab Personnel

Postdoc Fellows:
Jihong Li, Ph.D.
Susan Robertson, Ph.D.
Jorge Eugenio Vidal, Ph.D.

Graduate Student:
Justin Caserta