Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 25, 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

12.0K

Tigecycline suppresses toxin A and B production and sporulation in Clostridium difficile

Michael John Aldape1, Dustin Delaney Heeney2, Amy Evelyn Bryant3

  • 1Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 500 W. Fort Street, Boise, ID 83702, USA mike.aldape@va.gov.

The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
|August 25, 2014
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Tigecycline, an antibiotic, may control Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) by reducing toxin production and inhibiting spore formation in certain strains. This suggests potential for both treating infection and limiting its spread.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a significant healthcare concern, driven by toxins and spread through spores.
  • Existing antibiotics have varied effects on C. difficile toxin production, necessitating investigation of newer agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of tigecycline on C. difficile sporulation and toxin production.
  • To compare tigecycline's effects with vancomycin and metronidazole in different C. difficile strains.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro comparison of tigecycline's effects on sporulation and toxin A/B production in historical (9689) and hypervirulent (5325) C. difficile strains.
  • Assessment of subinhibitory concentrations of vancomycin and metronidazole for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

  • Tigecycline increased early toxin gene expression in both strains but only increased toxin protein in the historical strain; it suppressed toxin in the hypervirulent strain.
  • Tigecycline dose-dependently reduced viable spore production in both strains.
  • Vancomycin suppressed spore formation, while metronidazole had variable effects, stimulating spore production in the hypervirulent strain.

Conclusions:

  • Tigecycline demonstrates potential for controlling CDI by disrupting sporulation and modulating toxin production.
  • These findings suggest tigecycline could be a valuable therapeutic option for CDI, impacting both disease progression and transmission.
Keywords:
antibioticshuman diseaseinfectious diseasespathogenic bacteria

More Related Videos

Culturing and Maintaining Clostridium difficile in an Anaerobic Environment11:13

Culturing and Maintaining Clostridium difficile in an Anaerobic Environment

Published on: September 14, 2013

39.2K
A Protocol to Characterize the Morphological Changes of Clostridium difficile in Response to Antibiotic Treatment12:58

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

Published on: May 25, 2017

8.4K

Related Concept Videos

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...
130
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis01:25

Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis

Aminoglycosides constitute a highly potent class of bactericidal antibiotics that exert their antimicrobial effects by targeting the bacterial ribosome, specifically disrupting protein synthesis. These polycationic molecules consist of amino-modified sugars linked via glycosidic bonds to an aminocyclitol core such as 2-deoxystreptamine or streptamine. Their strong positive charges facilitate tight binding to the negatively charged phosphate backbone of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), primarily at the 16S...
98
Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis01:28

Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis

Bacterial pathogens depend on precise and efficient DNA replication to sustain infection. Two type II topoisomerases—DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV—are critical to this process, as they resolve DNA supercoiling and unlink chromosomes during replication. Fluoroquinolones, synthetic derivatives of quinolones, exploit this mechanism by stabilizing the transient DNA–enzyme cleavage complex, preventing strand religation, and causing lethal double-strand breaks. These...
125
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules01:10

Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures and can be regulated by microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). Microtubule destabilizing drugs are a class of MTAs that destabilize and prevent microtubules' polymerization. Both natural and synthetic chemicals can be found under this class of drugs. Vincristine and vinblastine, two vinca alkaloids, and colchicine were among the first to be discovered. These drugs can affect cells in various ways, either by inducing a change in cell morphology, preventing...
3.1K
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...
83
Endospores and Sporulation01:20

Endospores and Sporulation

Endospores are specialized, dormant cells primarily formed by Gram-positive bacteria, including Bacillus and Clostridium, enabling survival under extreme environmental conditions. Due to their unique composition and formation process, these structures are highly resistant to physical and chemical insults, such as extreme heat, ultraviolet and ionizing radiation, desiccation, and toxic chemicals. Rare instances of endospore-like structures have also been observed in some Gram-negative bacteria,...
6.7K