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Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Gastroenteritis01:18

Bacterial Gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...
Bacterial Toxins01:12

Bacterial Toxins

Bacterial toxins are sophisticated virulence factors that enable pathogenic bacteria to interact with, invade, and damage host tissues. These toxins fall broadly into two types: protein exotoxins, which are secreted into the environment and target specific host receptors, and lipopolysaccharide endotoxins, which are structural components of the bacterial outer membrane released primarily during bacterial lysis or membrane shedding. Exotoxins generally act more selectively, binding to cell...
Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota01:26

Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota

The phylum Bacteroidota includes over 700 species classified into four primary orders: Bacteroidales, Cytophagales, Flavobacteriales, and Sphingobacteriales. These gram-negative, non-sporulating rods exhibit saccharolytic capabilities and can be aerobic or fermentative, encompassing obligate aerobes, facultative aerobes, and obligate anaerobes. Many species display gliding motility, though some are nonmotile or use flagella. The genus Bacteroides is well-studied due to its significant role in...
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes01:24

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease01:25

Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease

Crohn’s disease is a chronic, relapsing form of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by segmental, transmural inflammation that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Its pathogenesis arises from a combination of genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and immune dysregulation. Together, these factors lead to an exaggerated immune response against components of the gut microbiome.Genetic and Environmental InfluencesMultiple genetic...
Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine01:29

Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine

The gut microbiome is formed by a vast and diverse community of bacteria that colonizes our large intestine. These bacteria start residing in the gut from birth and continue diversifying throughout life, influenced by factors such as diet, lifestyle, and stress. The gut bacterial community also includes bacteria from food and those that enter the colon through the anus.
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291
06:51

Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291

Published on: December 10, 2016

The continually evolving Clostridium difficile species.

Michelle D Cairns1, Richard A Stabler, Nandini Shetty

  • 1Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.

Future Microbiology
|August 24, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Clostridium difficile infections are evolving, with new virulent strains emerging. Understanding their molecular epidemiology and evolution is key to controlling this significant healthcare-associated pathogen.

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Culturing and Maintaining Clostridium difficile in an Anaerobic Environment
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Culturing and Maintaining Clostridium difficile in an Anaerobic Environment

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A Protocol to Characterize the Morphological Changes of Clostridium difficile in Response to Antibiotic Treatment

Published on: May 25, 2017

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Last Updated: May 19, 2026

Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291
06:51

Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291

Published on: December 10, 2016

Culturing and Maintaining Clostridium difficile in an Anaerobic Environment
11:13

Culturing and Maintaining Clostridium difficile in an Anaerobic Environment

Published on: September 14, 2013

A Protocol to Characterize the Morphological Changes of Clostridium difficile in Response to Antibiotic Treatment
12:58

A Protocol to Characterize the Morphological Changes of Clostridium difficile in Response to Antibiotic Treatment

Published on: May 25, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive bacterium causing severe diarrhea, particularly in elderly and hospitalized patients.
  • The incidence of C. difficile infection (CDI) has risen due to the emergence of hypervirulent and transmissible clonal lineages like PCR ribotypes 027, 017, and 078.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the emergence of virulent Clostridium difficile clones.
  • To discuss the current understanding of the molecular epidemiology of C. difficile.

Main Methods:

  • Population biology studies utilizing multilocus sequence typing (MLST).
  • Whole-genome comparisons and phylogenetic analyses (phylogeography and phylohistory).
  • Analysis of strains from diverse sources and geographical origins.

Main Results:

  • C. difficile has been classified into four main clonal complexes, including specific PCR ribotypes.
  • Significant microdiversity exists within clonal complexes, indicating ongoing evolution.
  • The pathogen responds to selective pressures from healthcare practices.

Conclusions:

  • Whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic methods offer detailed insights into C. difficile clone emergence and spread.
  • Understanding the molecular epidemiology is crucial for developing effective disease control strategies.
  • Clostridium difficile represents a dynamic evolutionary experiment influenced by human activity.