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Diphtheria, Corynebacterium, and Tetanus
Research Guide
What is Diphtheria, Corynebacterium, and Tetanus?
Diphtheria, Corynebacterium, and Tetanus refers to a cluster of research on Corynebacterium infections including diphtheria caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, tetanus caused by Clostridium tetani, and related microbiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, vaccine development, and toxoid immunization.
This field encompasses 70,355 works on Corynebacterium infections, diphtheria, and tetanus, covering microbiology, pathogenesis, molecular studies, epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, vaccine development, and toxoid immunization. Multiple highly cited manuals provide foundational protocols for bacterial identification, such as "Manual of Clinical Microbiology" by Jacob Blair, E H Lennette, J P Truant (1970, 2658 citations) and "MANUAL FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF MEDICAL BACTERIA" by E. Neter (1965, 2591 citations). "Ongoing Revolution in Bacteriology: Routine Identification of Bacteria by Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time‐of‐Flight Mass Spectrometry" by Piseth Seng et al. (2009, 1829 citations) describes MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry as a method for routine identification of bacterial isolates including Corynebacterium species in under 1 hour.
Topic Hierarchy
Research Sub-Topics
Corynebacterium diphtheriae Pathogenesis
This sub-topic examines diphtheria toxin production, iron acquisition systems, and biofilm formation by C. diphtheriae. Researchers study host-pathogen interactions and molecular determinants of respiratory vs. cutaneous disease.
Diphtheria Toxoid Vaccines
This sub-topic covers formulation, immunogenicity, and duration of immunity for DTaP/Tdap vaccines. Researchers investigate waning protection, adolescent boosters, and combination vaccine efficacy.
Clostridium tetani Neurotoxin
This sub-topic focuses on tetanospasmin structure, retrograde axonal transport, and inhibitory interneuron blockade. Researchers study therapeutic antitoxin delivery and next-generation tetanus vaccines.
Tetanus Toxoid Immunization
This sub-topic investigates maternal immunization, wound prophylaxis protocols, and surveillance of vaccine failures. Researchers evaluate herd immunity thresholds and combination DTP vaccines.
Non-Diphtheriae Corynebacteria
This sub-topic addresses opportunistic infections by C. jeikeium, C. striatum, and skin commensals in immunocompromised patients. Researchers study antimicrobial resistance patterns and diagnostic MALDI-TOF applications.
Why It Matters
Research in this area supports clinical diagnosis and management of diphtheria and tetanus through standardized identification methods detailed in manuals like "Manual of Clinical Microbiology" by Bo Drasar (2003, 2607 citations), which reviews the 8th edition covering protocols for Corynebacterium and Clostridium species. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry enables rapid, cost-effective identification of pathogens like Corynebacterium diphtheriae, replacing slower Gram staining and biochemical tests as shown by Seng et al. (2009), with a 1.9 identification score using Brucker systems and databases of ≥10 reference spectra per species. These advances aid epidemiology and outbreak response, while toxoid immunization studies underpin vaccine strategies preventing toxin-mediated diseases.
Reading Guide
Where to Start
"Manual of Clinical Microbiology" by Jacob Blair, E H Lennette, J P Truant (1970) as the most-cited work (2658 citations) providing foundational protocols for identifying Corynebacterium and related bacteria essential for understanding diphtheria and tetanus diagnostics.
Key Papers Explained
"Manual of Clinical Microbiology" by Jacob Blair et al. (1970) and "Manual of clinical microbiology" by Bo Drasar (2003) establish core identification protocols, while "MANUAL FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF MEDICAL BACTERIA" by E. Neter (1965) builds on them with specific medical bacteria techniques; Seng et al. (2009) advance these by introducing MALDI-TOF for rapid Corynebacterium identification, and "MANUAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY" by Albert S. Klainer (1970) reinforces practical applications.
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Field relies on established manuals and MALDI-TOF methods from Seng et al. (2009); no recent preprints or news available, so frontiers involve applying these to toxoid immunization and resistance tracking in the 70,355 works.
Papers at a Glance
| # | Paper | Year | Venue | Citations | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manual of Clinical Microbiology | 1970 | Postgraduate Medical J... | 2.7K | ✓ |
| 2 | Manual of clinical microbiology | 2003 | Transactions of the Ro... | 2.6K | ✕ |
| 3 | MANUAL FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF MEDICAL BACTERIA | 1965 | American Journal of Pu... | 2.6K | ✕ |
| 4 | Ongoing Revolution in Bacteriology: Routine Identification of ... | 2009 | Clinical Infectious Di... | 1.8K | ✕ |
| 5 | Botulinum Toxin as a Biological Weapon | 2001 | JAMA | 1.8K | ✕ |
| 6 | Starch Gel Electrophoresis in a Discontinuous System of Buffers | 1957 | Nature | 1.8K | ✕ |
| 7 | Gram-Negative Bacteremia | 1962 | Archives of Internal M... | 1.4K | ✕ |
| 8 | A METHOD FOR PRODUCING SPECIFIC ANTISERA WITH SMALL DOSES OF I... | 1971 | The Journal of Clinica... | 1.4K | ✕ |
| 9 | Manual of Clinical Microbiology. | 1970 | Annals of Internal Med... | 1.3K | ✕ |
| 10 | MANUAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY | 1970 | The American Journal o... | 1.2K | ✕ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What methods are used for identifying Corynebacterium in clinical microbiology?
Manuals such as "Manual of Clinical Microbiology" by Jacob Blair, E H Lennette, J P Truant (1970) and "MANUAL FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF MEDICAL BACTERIA" by E. Neter (1965) provide protocols for identifying medical bacteria including Corynebacterium species. "Manual of clinical microbiology" by Bo Drasar (2003) details the 8th edition's comprehensive procedures for such isolates. These resources standardize biochemical and morphological tests essential for diphtheria diagnosis.
How does MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry identify bacteria like Corynebacterium?
MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry identifies bacterial isolates in under 1 hour using a database with ≥10 reference spectra per species and a 1.9 identification score on Brucker systems, as described by Seng et al. (2009). It serves as a cost-effective replacement for Gram staining and biochemical identification in routine bacteriology. This method applies to Corynebacterium and other pathogens in diphtheria and tetanus research.
What role do manuals play in tetanus and diphtheria research?
"Manual of Clinical Microbiology" entries, including those by Jacob Blair et al. (1970, 2658 citations) and Albert S. Klainer (1970, 1172 citations), offer protocols for handling Clostridium tetani and Corynebacterium diphtheriae. They support pathogenesis and epidemiology studies by standardizing isolation techniques. These works total over 11,000 citations across editions.
Why is bacterial identification critical for diphtheria epidemiology?
Accurate identification of Corynebacterium diphtheriae enables tracking of outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance, as covered in the 70,355 works on this topic. Manuals like "MANUAL FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF MEDICAL BACTERIA" by E. Neter (1965) provide specific methods for medical bacteria. Rapid tools like MALDI-TOF, per Seng et al. (2009), enhance molecular epidemiology.
What is covered in clinical microbiology manuals for these infections?
Manuals such as "Manual of Clinical Microbiology." (1970, 1324 citations) and "Manual of clinical microbiology" by Bo Drasar (2003) include two-volume guides with 2322 pages on protocols for Corynebacterium infections and tetanus. They address microbiology, identification, and related diagnostics. Editors like Patrick R. Murray oversee content for American Society for Microbiology Press.
Open Research Questions
- ? How can MALDI-TOF databases be expanded for rare Corynebacterium strains in diphtheria-endemic regions?
- ? What molecular markers distinguish toxigenic from non-toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae in epidemiological surveillance?
- ? How do identification protocols in clinical manuals adapt to emerging antimicrobial resistance in tetanus-causing Clostridium tetani?
- ? What improvements in toxoid immunization specificity arise from antisera production methods for bacterial toxins?
Recent Trends
No recent preprints or news coverage available in the last 12 months; the field maintains stability with 70,355 works, anchored by highly cited manuals from 1957-2009 like Seng et al. on MALDI-TOF, showing no reported growth rate over 5 years.
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