<i>Clostridioides difficile</i> toxin A and toxin B inhibit toxin-specific adaptive immune responses through glucosyltransferase-dependent activity.

ABSTRACT: Clostridioides difficile colonizes the gastrointestinal tract and secretes two virulence factors: toxin A (TcdA) and toxin B (TcdB). Protective immunity against C. difficile infection is limited as patients are susceptible to multiple rounds of recurrent infections. The factors determining whether immunity to TcdA and TcdB is generated remain incompletely defined. We determined that C. difficile-infected mice generate antibody and IL-17A-producing CD4⁺ T cell responses to TcdA, but not TcdB. To determine the mechanism of the failed anti-TcdB immunity, C. difficile mutant strains expressing glucosyltransferase inactive (GTX) TcdA, and/or glucosyltransferase inactive TcdB were used. Infection with TcdB_GTX or dual mutant (TcdA_GTX Tc

SUBMITTER: Maslanka JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12324437 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature