Clostridium butyricum

Clostridium butyricum is a strictly anaerobic endospore-forming Gram-positive butyric acid producing bacillus subsisting by means of fermentation using an intracellularly accumulated amylopectin-like α-polyglucan (granulose) as a substrate. It is uncommonly reported as a human pathogen and widely used as a probiotic in Asia (particularly Japan).^[1] C. butyricum is a soil inhabitant in various parts of the world, has been cultured from the stool of healthy children and adults, and is common in soured milk and cheeses.^[2]

Therapeutic Uses

Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 Strain was discovered by Dr. Miyairi in 1933 at Chiba Medical College (now Chiba University School of Medicine) in Japan. C. butyricum is a "friendly" Clostridium which can live normally in the human flora, is quite safe and is available commercially in Japan, Korea and China. Its usefulness stems primarily from its ability to interfere with the growth of highly pathogenic Clostridium difficile by antagonizing its multiplication.^[3] It is often used in Japanese hospitals for C. difficile prophylaxis amongst in-patients and, particularly, during administration of certain powerful antibiotics (i.e.: Levofloxacin) associated with opportunistic C. difficile infection.

The standard preparation as marketed by Miyarisan Pharmaceutical (Tokyo, Japan) consists of white, marked tablets each containing 0.35 x 10⁶ colony forming unites (CFU) of Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 (as active agent).

To date, little western literature is available on this probiotic.

Sources

Hashwa F., Tokajian S., (2008), Microbiology, an experimental approach. 7th edition, 2008.
Kyne L, Warndy M, Qamar A, Kelly CP. Asymptomatic carriage of Clostridum difficile and serum levels of IgG antibody against toxin A.N Engl J Med 20;342:390-397.
Leung DY, Kelly CP, Boguniewicz M, Pothoulakis C, Lamont JT, Flores A. T with intravenously administered gamma globulin of chronic relapsing colitis induced by Clostridium difficile toxin. J. Paediatr 1991;118:633-637.

References

^ Seki, H., Shiohara, M., Matsumura, T., Miyagawa, N., Tanaka, M., Komiyama, A. & Kurata, S. (2003). Prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children by Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI. Pediatr Int 45, 86–90
^ Meng, X., Karasawa, T., Zou, K., Kuang, X., Wang, X., Lu, C., Wang, C., Yamakawa, K. & Nakamura, S. (1997). Characterization of a neurotoxigenic Clostridium butyricum strain isolated from the food implicated in an outbreak of food-borne type E botulism. J Clin Microbiol 35, 2160–2162.
^ Woo TD, Oka K, Takahashi M, Hojo F, Osaki T, Hanawa T, Kurata S, Yonezawa H, Kamiya S. (2011). Inhibition of the cytotoxic effect of Clostridium difficile in vitro by Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 strain. J Med Microbiol 11, 1617-25

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[1] Seki, H., Shiohara, M., Matsumura, T., Miyagawa, N., Tanaka, M., Komiyama, A. & Kurata, S. (2003). Prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children by Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI. Pediatr Int 45, 86–90

[2] Meng, X., Karasawa, T., Zou, K., Kuang, X., Wang, X., Lu, C., Wang, C., Yamakawa, K. & Nakamura, S. (1997). Characterization of a neurotoxigenic Clostridium butyricum strain isolated from the food implicated in an outbreak of food-borne type E botulism. J Clin Microbiol 35, 2160–2162.

[3] Woo TD, Oka K, Takahashi M, Hojo F, Osaki T, Hanawa T, Kurata S, Yonezawa H, Kamiya S. (2011). Inhibition of the cytotoxic effect of Clostridium difficile in vitro by Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 strain. J Med Microbiol 11, 1617-25

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