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Updated: Apr 3, 2026
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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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Using a Novel Lysin To Help Control Clostridium difficile Infections
Qiong Wang1, Chad W Euler2, Aurelia Delaune1
1Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA.
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
|September 23, 2015
Summary
A novel enzyme, PlyCD1-174, shows potent activity against Clostridium difficile, a common cause of hospital infections. This enzyme offers a promising nonantibiotic therapeutic for C. difficile infections, alone or with existing treatments.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) are a major cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea and colitis.
- Antibiotic resistance and high relapse rates complicate current treatments for CDI.
- Novel nonantibiotic therapeutic strategies are needed to combat CDI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the therapeutic potential of a novel prophage lysin, PlyCD, and its catalytic domain, PlyCD1-174, against Clostridium difficile.
- To evaluate the lytic activity, specificity, and efficacy of PlyCD1-174 in vitro and ex vivo.
Main Methods:
- Recombinant expression of prophage lysin PlyCD and its catalytic domain PlyCD1-174.
- Assessing lytic activity and spectrum against various C. difficile strains.
- Evaluating synergistic bactericidal effects with vancomycin in vitro.
- Testing efficacy in an ex vivo mouse colon infection model.
Main Results:
- PlyCD1-174 demonstrated significant lytic activity (>4-log kill) and a broad spectrum against C. difficile.
- PlyCD1-174 showed high specificity, sparing commensal bacteria.
- Combined treatment with sub-lethal vancomycin and PlyCD1-174 enhanced bactericidal effects.
- PlyCD1-174 effectively reduced C. difficile colonization in an ex vivo colon model.
Conclusions:
- PlyCD1-174 is a potent and specific lytic agent against Clostridium difficile.
- This enzyme holds promise as a novel therapeutic for CDI, potentially enhancing existing treatments.
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