Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 11, 2025

Conjugative Mating Assays for Sequence-specific Analysis of Transfer Proteins Involved in Bacterial Conjugation
10:41

Conjugative Mating Assays for Sequence-specific Analysis of Transfer Proteins Involved in Bacterial Conjugation

Published on: January 4, 2017

14.2K

Putative Conjugative Plasmids with tcdB and cdtAB Genes in Clostridioides difficile

Gabriel Ramírez-Vargas, César Rodríguez

    Emerging Infectious Diseases
    |August 21, 2020
    PubMed

    Insights

    Conjugative plasmids carrying Clostridioides difficile toxins (TcdB, CDT) were found in clinical isolates. These plasmids may contribute to the spread of C. difficile toxins in patient populations.

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Genetics
    • Infectious Diseases

    Background:

    • Clostridioides difficile toxins (TcdA, TcdB, CDT) are typically chromosomally encoded.
    • Understanding toxin acquisition and spread is crucial for controlling C. difficile infections.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the presence and characteristics of toxin-encoding mobile genetic elements in clinical C. difficile isolates.
    • To identify potential mechanisms for toxin gene dissemination beyond chromosomal integration.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of clinical C. difficile isolates from specific multilocus sequence typing (MLST) clades.
    • Plasmid identification and characterization using molecular techniques.
    • Detection of toxin genes (tcdB, cdtAB) on identified plasmids.

    Main Results:

    • Five instances of a putative conjugative plasmid family carrying tcdB and cdtAB were identified.
    • These plasmids were found in clinical isolates belonging to MLST clades C-I, 2, and 4.
    • This suggests a role for plasmids in toxin gene carriage in C. difficile.

    Conclusions:

    • Conjugative plasmids can carry major C. difficile virulence factors (TcdB, CDT).
    • Plasmid-mediated toxin gene transfer represents a potential mechanism for C. difficile evolution and spread.
    • Further research is warranted to explore the epidemiological impact of these toxin-encoding plasmids.
    Keywords:
    C. difficileCDTClostridioidesClostridioides difficilebacteriacytotoxinslateral gene transfermobile genetic elementsplasmidstcdBvirulence factors

    More Related Videos

    Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R2029106:51

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

    Published on: December 10, 2016

    13.0K
    Detection of Horizontal Gene Transfer Mediated by Natural Conjugative Plasmids in E. coli06:56

    Detection of Horizontal Gene Transfer Mediated by Natural Conjugative Plasmids in E. coli

    Published on: March 24, 2023

    6.6K

    Related Concept Videos

    Conjugation01:19

    Conjugation

    Conjugation is a form of horizontal gene transfer that primarily occurs in bacteria and some archaea, promoting genetic diversity and adaptation. Bacteria can acquire resistance genes through conjugative plasmids, allowing them to survive antibiotic treatments that would otherwise be lethal. This process involves direct contact between cells through specialized structures such as the sex pilus and is mediated by conjugative plasmids, including the F (fertility) factor.Conjugation requires...
    1.6K
    Mechanism of Conjugation01:19

    Mechanism of Conjugation

    Bacterial conjugation is a mechanism of horizontal gene transfer that enables the exchange of genetic material between bacterial cells through direct contact. This process is facilitated by a donor cell carrying a conjugative plasmid, which encodes genes necessary for pilus formation, DNA replication, and transfer. The conjugative plasmid plays a central role in initiating and executing the transfer of genetic material.The tra region of the conjugative plasmid encodes proteins responsible for...
    570
    Plasmids01:28

    Plasmids

    Plasmids are extrachromosomal DNA molecules found in bacteria, archaea, and some eukaryotic microbes like yeast. These small, circular DNA structures typically contain fewer than 30 genes, although some may exist linearly. Plasmids vary in their number within a cell, known as copy number. Single-copy plasmids are present in one copy per cell and multi-copy plasmids are present in multiple copies, reaching over 100 copies per cell.Plasmids usually replicate independently of the chromosomal DNA...
    778