HSPG2 and gas gangrene: Several lines of evidence demonstrate the main role of CpPLC in the pathogenesis of gas gangrene: first, C. perfringensmutant strains lacking the plc gene do not cause gas gangrene [6]; second, CpPLC injected intramuscularly causes extensive myonecrosis [7]; and third, immunization with a CpPLC fragment protects mice from a lethal C. perfringens infection [8].