Dynamics and establishment of Clostridium difficile infection in the murine gastrointestinal tract.

ABSTRACT: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) following antibiotic therapy is a major public health threat. While antibiotic disruption of the indigenous microbiota underlies the majority of cases of CDI, the early dynamics of infection in the disturbed intestinal ecosystem are poorly characterized. This study defines the dynamics of infection with C. difficile strain VPI 10463 throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract using a murine model of infection. After inducing susceptibility to C. difficile colonization via antibiotic administration, we followed the dynamics of spore germination, colonization, sporulation, toxin activity, and disease progression throughout the GI tract. C. difficile spores were able to germinate within 6 h postchallenge, resulting in the establishment of vegetative bacter

SUBMITTER: Koenigsknecht MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4333439 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature