Evidence of in vivo prophage induction during Clostridium difficile infection.

ABSTRACT: Prophages contribute to the evolution and virulence of most bacterial pathogens, but their role in Clostridium difficile is unclear. Here we describe the isolation of four Myoviridae phages, ΦMMP01, ΦMMP02, ΦMMP03, and ΦMMP04, that were recovered as free viral particles in the filter-sterilized stool supernatants of patients suffering from C. difficile infection (CDI). Furthermore, identical prophages were found in the chromosomes of C. difficile isolated from the corresponding fecal samples. We therefore provide, for the first time, evidence of in vivo prophage induction during CDI. We completely sequenced the genomes of ΦMMP02 and ΦMMP04, and bioinformatics analyses did not reveal the presence of virulence factors but underlined the unique character of ΦMMP04. We also studied the mobilit

SUBMITTER: Meessen-Pinard M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3485732 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature