They are anaerobic,[1] gram-positive, spore-forming rods that occur naturally in the soil.

[4][5] The major virulence factor of C. perfringens is the CPE enterotoxin, which is secreted upon invasion of the host gut, and contributes to food poisoning and other gastrointestinal illnesses.

[3] It has a molecular weight of 35.3 kDa, and is responsible for the disintegration of tight junctions between epithelial cells in the gut.

[6] This mechanism is mediated by host claudin-3 and claudin-4 receptors, situated at the tight junctions.

[7] Clostridium enterotoxin is a nine-stranded beta sheet sandwich in shape.