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Updated: Nov 14, 2025
Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291
Published on: December 10, 2016
New ribotype Clostridioides difficile from ST11 group revealed higher pathogenic ability than RT078
Wenpeng Gu1,2, Wenguang Wang1, Wenge Li3
1Center of Tree Shrew Germplasm Resources, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Yunnan Innovation Team of Standardization and Application Research in Tree Shrew, Kunming, China.
New Clostridioides difficile strains (CD10010, CD12038) show increased toxin production and virulence compared to RT078. Strain CD12038 exhibits enhanced motility, adhesion, and causes more severe disease in animal models.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
Background:
- Clostridioides difficile is a major cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
- RT078 is a known C. difficile ribotype; new strains within the ST11 group were identified in China.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the virulence factors and pathogenic potential of new C. difficile ribotype strains (CD10010, CD12038) against the established RT078 strain.
- To investigate in vitro and in vivo differences in sporulation, germination, toxin expression, motility, adhesion, and disease severity.
Main Methods:
- In vitro assays for sporulation, spore germination, toxin transcription, motility (flagellar characteristics), and cell adhesion (Hep-2 cells).
- In vivo analysis using animal models to assess histopathology and inflammation scores.
Main Results:
- Sporulation and germination were similar across strains.
- CD10010 and CD12038 exhibited higher toxin transcription early on. CD12038 showed superior motility and adhesion.
- The switch from flagellar phase OFF to ON upregulated toxins and flagellar proteins, enhancing pathogenicity. CD12038 induced the most severe tissue damage in vivo.
Conclusions:
- New C. difficile ribotype strains, especially CD12038, possess enhanced pathogenic potential compared to RT078.
- Increased attention to these novel strains in epidemiological research is warranted due to their heightened virulence.
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