Sensitive quantification of Clostridium perfringens in human feces by quantitative real-time PCR targeting alpha-toxin and enterotoxin genes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Clostridium perfringens is a widespread pathogen, but the precise quantification of this subdominant gut microbe remains difficult due to its low fecal count (particularly in asymptomatic subjects) and also due to the presence of abundant polymerase-inhibitory substances in human feces. Also, information on the intestinal carriage of toxigenic C. perfringens strains in healthy subjects is sparse. Therefore, we developed a sensitive quantitative real-time PCR assays for quantification of C. perfringens in human feces by targeting its α-toxin and enterotoxin genes. To validate the assays, we finally observed the occurrence of α-toxigenic and enterotoxigenic C. perfringens in the fecal microbiota of healthy Japanese infants and young adults.

Methods

The plc-specific

SUBMITTER: Nagpal R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4615878 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature