Clostridium difficile exosporium cysteine-rich proteins are essential for the morphogenesis of the exosporium layer, spore resistance, and affect C. difficile pathogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive spore-former bacterium and the leading cause of nosocomial antibiotic-associated diarrhea that can culminate in fatal colitis. During the infection, C. difficile produces metabolically dormant spores, which persist in the host and can cause recurrence of the infection. The surface of C. difficile spores seems to be the key in spore-host interactions and persistence. The proteome of the outermost exosporium layer of C. difficile spores has been determined, identifying two cysteine-rich exosporium proteins, CdeC and CdeM. In this work, we explore the contribution of both cysteine-rich proteins in exosporium integrity, spore biology and pathogenesis. Using targeted mutagenesis coupled with transmission electron microscopy we demonstrate that both cyste

SUBMITTER: Calderon-Romero P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6101409 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature