Clostridium difficile: Difference between revisions

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==Ecology==
==Ecology==
Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.
Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.
C. difficile is not a major constituent of the microflora in colons of healthy adult humans or animals but can grow to large populations in people that are treated with antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum antibiotics.  This is because the antibiotics kill off the normal flora of the intestines leaving C. difficile to freely grow and colonize the intestine.  As long as other organisms are around C. difficile cannot grow due to limited resources and space, however, there is nothing stopping it from growing out of control in the absence of other microorganisms.  When under extreme conditions such as the low pH environment of the stomach, high heat or when under attack by antibiotics C. difficile can form spores which can survive for up to two years and withstand extreme conditions.  The spores can then convert to the active form of C. difficile when conditions are favorable and allow the bacteria to grow.


==Pathology==
==Pathology==

Revision as of 16:21, 3 May 2007

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Clostridium difficile

Classification

Gram-positive anaerobe

Higher order taxa

Domain: Bacteria Phylum: Firmicutes Class: Clostridia Order: Clostridiales Family: Clostridiaceae [Others may be used. Use [1] link to find]

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

Clostridium difficile

Description and significance

Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why it is important enough to have its genome sequenced. Describe how and where it was isolated. Include a picture or two (with sources) if you can find them.

C. difficile is found everywhere in nature like in water, air, human and animal feces, on most surfaces (especially in hospitals) and most prevalently in soil. C. difficile shows optimum growth when at human body temperature. C. difficile appears as long drumsticks with a bulge at each end. C. difficile was first isolated by Hall and O’Toole from the meconium and feces of newborn infants. It is important enough to have its genome sequenced because it provides a better tool for preventing and controlling infection. The genome also reveals clues as to how the pathogen thrives in the GI tract and why some strains are so much more virulent than others. The genome of C. difficile can also explain their antimicrobial resistance and allow for quicker detection and better treatment options. In addition, it allows scientists to correlate different toxins and genes and their disease-causing ability.

Genome structure

Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence? Does it have any plasmids? Are they important to the organism's lifestyle?

C. difficile Strain 630 (epidemic type X) has a single circular chromosome with 4,290,252 bp (G+C content = 29.06%) and a circular plasmid with 7,881 bp (G+C content = 27.9%). The whole genome has been sequenced and found that 11% of the genome consists of mobile genetic elements such as conjugative transposons. These elements provide C. difficile with the genes responsible for its antimicrobial resistance, virulence, host interaction and the production of surface structures. For example, the cdeA gene of C. difficile produces a multidrug efflux pump which was shown to be homologous to known efflux transporters in the multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) family. The protein facilitates energy-dependent and sodium-coupled efflux of drugs from cells. In addition, the cme gene in C. difficile has been shown to confer multidrug resistance in other bacteria.

Cell structure and metabolism

Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

C. difficile is a gram-positive spore-forming anaerobe. It expresses two S-layer proteins one of which is highly conserved among strains and one which shows sequence diversity. Both proteins are derived from a single gene product and both are associated with amidase activity. It requires five amino acids (Leu, Ile, Pro, Trp and Val) for energy metabolism and addition of Gly increases growth significantly. C. difficile undergoes amino acid fermentation in order to create ATP as a source of energy.

Ecology

Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.

C. difficile is not a major constituent of the microflora in colons of healthy adult humans or animals but can grow to large populations in people that are treated with antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum antibiotics. This is because the antibiotics kill off the normal flora of the intestines leaving C. difficile to freely grow and colonize the intestine. As long as other organisms are around C. difficile cannot grow due to limited resources and space, however, there is nothing stopping it from growing out of control in the absence of other microorganisms. When under extreme conditions such as the low pH environment of the stomach, high heat or when under attack by antibiotics C. difficile can form spores which can survive for up to two years and withstand extreme conditions. The spores can then convert to the active form of C. difficile when conditions are favorable and allow the bacteria to grow.

Pathology

How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

Application to Biotechnology

Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?

Current Research

Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required

References

[Sample reference] Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.

Edited by student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano