Which bacterium is known for causing paralysis and is commonly associated with infant botulism?

Clostridium botulinum is the bacterium responsible for producing a potent neurotoxin that leads to paralysis, commonly seen in cases of botulism. In infants, this can manifest as infant botulism, which occurs when infants consume spores of the bacteria, allowing them to grow and produce the toxin in the immature gastrointestinal tract. Unlike adults, infants do not have a fully developed gut flora or gut maturity to inhibit the growth of C. botulinum, making them particularly vulnerable. The symptoms may include weakness, poor feeding, hypotonia, and flaccid paralysis.

Other bacteria listed do not have the same association with paralysis. Escherichia coli, while it is implicated in a range of illnesses such as diarrhea, does not produce the neurotoxin responsible for paralysis. Salmonella typhi is the causative agent of typhoid fever and does not cause paralysis. Listeria monocytogenes is associated with listeriosis, which can lead to symptoms such as meningitis but is not linked to paralysis in the same manner as botulism.

Thus, the identification of Clostridium botulinum as the causative agent of paralysis, particularly in the context of infant botulism, underlines the importance