Coloured Scanning Electron Micrograph of two individual rod-like, Gram-positive bacteria of the species Clostridium botulinum, responsible for serious food poisoning in humans. C. botulinum grows in badly preserved canned foods, notably meat & fish, & produces the potent exotoxin that causes botulism poisoning. Individuals are poisoned through intoxication when they eat food in which the bacteria have developed & secreted the exotoxin. The toxin affects the central nervous system; in fatal cases death results from heart & lung failure due to malfunctions in the cardiac & respiratory centres of the brain. Magnification: x5800 at 35mm, x13000 at 6x6cm size