Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents01:18

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents

544
Acute diarrhea, a common gastrointestinal disturbance, is characterized by the rapid evacuation of fluid stools, leading to an excessive weight in fluid. This condition typically arises from disorders affecting intestinal water and electrolyte transport. It can be triggered by an increased osmotic load within the intestine, excessive secretion of electrolytes and water, mucosal exudation of protein and fluid, or altered intestinal motility. The primary risks of acute diarrhea are dehydration...
544
Biological Methods for Microbial Control01:28

Biological Methods for Microbial Control

1.3K
Biological agents offer an effective means of controlling microbial growth by leveraging natural processes like predation, competition, and the secretion of antimicrobial substances.Predatory bacteria such as Bdellovibrio species target and kill pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. They are widely used in poultry farms to control infections. Myxococcus species help combat plant-pathogenic fungi. These naturally occurring predators serve as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides and...
1.3K
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

33
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within...
33
Chemical Agents for Microbial Control01:27

Chemical Agents for Microbial Control

1.5K
Chemicals play important roles in controlling microbial growth by targeting microbial structures and functions as sanitizers, antiseptics, disinfectants, and sterilants.Alcohols are commonly used sanitizers, effectively disrupting lipid membranes, which compromises cell integrity. They are also used as antiseptics and disinfectants due to their rapid action and versatility.Phenols and their derivatives phenolics , known for denaturing proteins and disrupting cell membranes, are particularly...
1.5K
Antimicrobial Proteins01:23

Antimicrobial Proteins

15.4K
Antimicrobial proteins are important components of the immune system. They aid the body in combating pathogens by either killing them directly or hindering their replication processes. Four main types of antimicrobial substances are interferons, the complement system, iron-binding proteins, and antimicrobial proteins.
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
15.4K
Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

Surface Membrane Barriers

3.3K
The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
3.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Tumor-Targeted pan-RAS Inhibition as a Novel Biologic Therapy for Diffuse Midline Glioma.

Neuro-oncology·2026
Same author

Bile acid dependent attenuation of toxin mediated disease is independent of colonization resistance against <i>C. difficile</i>.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Negative regulation of the NF-κB pathway by the ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-1(NE).

Communications biology·2026
Same author

Structure-guided design of a synthetic bile acid that inhibits Clostridioides difficile TcdB toxin.

Nature microbiology·2025
Same author

Atomically accurate de novo design of antibodies with RFdiffusion.

Nature·2025
Same author

De novo design of potent inhibitors of clostridial family toxins.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 30, 2026

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

9.5K

Small Molecules Take A Big Step Against Clostridium difficile.

Greg L Beilhartz1, John Tam1, Roman A Melnyk2

  • 1Molecular Structure & Function, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada.

Trends in Microbiology
|November 9, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Clostridium difficile infections require new treatments beyond antibiotics. A novel drug neutralizes C. difficile toxins without harming bacteria, showing promise for small molecule therapies.

Keywords:
Clostridium difficileTcdBebseleninhibitorsmall molecule

More Related Videos

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

13.4K
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

40.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 30, 2026

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

9.5K
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

13.4K
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

40.4K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) are a significant healthcare challenge.
  • Current treatments primarily rely on antibiotics, contributing to resistance.
  • There is a critical need for alternative therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential of small molecules as a novel therapeutic approach for CDI.
  • To evaluate a specific drug's ability to attenuate Clostridium difficile toxin activity in vivo.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a small molecule drug designed to inhibit toxin action.
  • Assessed the drug's efficacy in an in vivo model of Clostridium difficile infection.
  • Monitored the drug's effect on toxin activity independent of direct antibacterial action.

Main Results:

  • The tested drug effectively attenuated Clostridium difficile toxin action in vivo.
  • The drug demonstrated efficacy without impacting bacterial survival.
  • This highlights the potential of targeting toxin activity.

Conclusions:

  • Small molecules represent a promising new therapeutic modality for treating Clostridium difficile infections.
  • Targeting toxin neutralization offers a viable alternative to conventional antibiotic treatments.
  • Further development of such agents could combat antibiotic resistance in CDI.