Characterization of temperate phages infecting Clostridium difficile isolates of human and animal origins.

ABSTRACT: Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive pathogen infecting humans and animals. Recent studies suggest that animals could represent potential reservoirs of C. difficile that could then transfer to humans. Temperate phages contribute to the evolution of most bacteria, for example, by promoting the transduction of virulence, fitness, and antibiotic resistance genes. In C. difficile, little is known about their role, mainly because suitable propagating hosts and conditions are lacking. Here we report the isolation, propagation, and preliminary characterization of nine temperate phages from animal and human C. difficile isolates. Prophages were induced by UV light from 58 C. difficile isolates of animal and human origins. Using soft agar overlays with 27 different C. difficile test strains, we

SUBMITTER: Sekulovic O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3993186 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature