vs

Clostridium amylolyticum compared with Clostridium septicum

Taxonomic Classification

Rank
Kingdom same	Bacteria (Bacteria)	Bacteria (Bacteria)
Phylum same	Firmicutes_A	Firmicutes_A
Class same	Clostridia (Clostridia)	Clostridia (Clostridia)
Order same	Clostridiales (Clostridiales)	Clostridiales (Clostridiales)
Family same	Clostridiaceae	Clostridiaceae
Genus same	Clostridium	Clostridium
Species	Clostridium amylolyticum	Clostridium septicum

Evolutionary Relationship

and share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Clostridium.

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Asia, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found in Taiwan.

Habitat

Native to Asia, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found in Taiwan.

Clostridium amylolyticum is an anaerobic, endospore-forming bacterium in the family Clostridiaceae notable for its ability to ferment starch (amylon in Greek, giving the species epithet) and other complex carbohydrates to produce organic acids, alcohols, and gases. Like other members of the Clostridium genus, it is a strictly anaerobic rod-shaped bacterium that produces resistant endospores enabling survival in unfavorable environmental conditions, including exposure to heat, desiccation, and oxygen. C. amylolyticum is found in starch-rich anaerobic environments such as soil, sediments, and fermentation systems, where its amylolytic enzymes break down starch polymers into simpler sugars that are then fermented. The genus Clostridium is polyphyletic and has undergone extensive reclassification as molecular phylogenetics revealed it encompasses multiple distinct evolutionary lineages. Amylolytic clostridia have industrial applications in bioprocessing, particularly in biofuel production through simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of starchy biomass feedstocks, and in producing commodity chemicals through anaerobic fermentation.

Clostridium septicum is a highly virulent, anaerobic, endospore-forming bacterium in the family Clostridiaceae and an important cause of nontraumatic clostridial myonecrosis (gas gangrene) and fatal septicemia in humans and livestock. Unlike C. perfringens, which typically requires predisposing tissue injury, C. septicum is notable for its ability to cause spontaneous gas gangrene arising from bacteremic seeding of intestinal origin, most often in patients with occult colorectal malignancy, hematological malignancies, or neutropenia. The bacterium produces several toxins including alpha-toxin, a pore-forming cytolysin, and hyaluronidase, which facilitate tissue invasion and destruction. Endospores are ubiquitous in soil and the intestinal contents of healthy animals and humans. In livestock, C. septicum causes braxy (sheep abomasitis) and malignant edema, economically significant diseases in sheep and cattle grazing on contaminated pastures. The strong clinical association between spontaneous C. septicum bacteremia and gastrointestinal malignancy means that its isolation from blood cultures warrants urgent investigation for underlying colonic pathology.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇹🇼 Taiwan