Functional analysis of SleC from Clostridium difficile: an essential lytic transglycosylase involved in spore germination.

ABSTRACT: Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of enteric disease and presents a major burden on healthcare systems globally due in part to the observed rapid rise in antibiotic resistance. The ability of C. difficile to form endospores is a key feature in the organism's pathogenesis and transmission, and contributes greatly to its resilient nature. Endospores are highly resistant to disinfection, allowing them to persist on hospital surfaces. In order for the organism to cause disease, the spores must germinate and revert to a vegetative form. While spore germination in Bacillus spp. is well understood, very little is known about this process in Clostridia. Here we report the characterization of SleC (CD0551) from C. difficile 630. Bioinformatic analysis of SleC indicated a multi-domained

SUBMITTER: Gutelius D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3917228 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature