Variations in TcdB activity and the hypervirulence of emerging strains of Clostridium difficile.

ABSTRACT: Hypervirulent strains of Clostridium difficile have emerged over the past decade, increasing the morbidity and mortality of patients infected by this opportunistic pathogen. Recent work suggested the major C. difficile virulence factor, TcdB, from hypervirulent strains (TcdB(HV)) was more cytotoxic in vitro than TcdB from historical strains (TcdB(HIST)). The current study investigated the in vivo impact of altered TcdB tropism, and the underlying mechanism responsible for the differences in activity between the two forms of this toxin. A combination of protein sequence analyses, in vivo studies using a Danio rerio model system, and cell entry combined with fluorescence assays were used to define the critical differences between TcdB(HV) and TcdB(HIST). Sequence analysis found that TcdB was

SUBMITTER: Lanis JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2924371 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature