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Updated: May 7, 2026
Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291
Published on: December 10, 2016
Polysaccharide lyase PL3.3 possibly potentiating Clostridioides difficile clinical symptoms based on complete genome
Abstract:
Clostridioides difficile has rapidly become a major cause of nosocomial infectious diarrhea worldwide due to the misuse of antibiotics. Our previous study confirmed that RT046/ST35 strain is associated with more severe clinical symptoms compared to RT012/ST54 strain. We conducted genome comparison of the RT046/ST35 and RT012/ST54 strains using whole-genome sequencing technology. The RT046/ST35 strain had a genome length of 7,869,254 bp with a GC content of 29.49%. The original length of the RT012/ST54 strain was 7,499,568 bp with a GC content of 29.64%. Additionally, we detected plasmid1 in the RT046/ST54 strain. We found that the RT046/ST35 strain had more genomic islands compared to the RT012/ST54 strain, and we identified polysaccharide lyase (PL) in the region around 2.2 M. Furthermore, we discovered that the increased severity of clinical symptoms in the RT046/ST35 strain compared to the RT012/ST54 strain was unrelated to virulence factors and emphasized the potential crucial role of PL in RT046/ST35. There were almost no differences in eggNOG annotation and KEGG annotation between RT046/ST35 and RT012/ST54. RT046/ST35 had more mRNA processes in GO annotation. In conclusion, our study suggests that the core factor contributing to the more serious clinical symptoms of the RT046/ST35 strain compared to the RT012/ST54 strain is possibly PL.
Insights
Clostridioides difficile strains RT046/ST35 and RT012/ST54 were compared. The RT046/ST35 strain, linked to severe infections, showed more genomic islands and polysaccharide lyase (PL), potentially explaining its increased virulence.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genomics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Clostridioides difficile is a significant cause of hospital-acquired infectious diarrhea globally.
- Antibiotic misuse contributes to the rise of C. difficile infections.
- Previous research indicated RT046/ST35 strains cause more severe symptoms than RT012/ST54 strains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the genomes of C. difficile RT046/ST35 and RT012/ST54 strains.
- To identify genomic differences that may explain the varying clinical severity associated with these strains.
Main Methods:
- Whole-genome sequencing was employed for comparative genomic analysis.
- Bioinformatic tools were used for genome annotation (eggNOG, KEGG, GO) and identification of genomic features.
- Plasmid detection and genomic island analysis were performed.
Main Results:
- The RT046/ST35 strain possesses a larger genome and more genomic islands than RT012/ST54.
- Polysaccharide lyase (PL) was identified in the RT046/ST35 strain.
- No significant differences were found in eggNOG or KEGG annotations, but GO annotation revealed more mRNA processes in RT046/ST35.
- The increased clinical severity was not linked to known virulence factors but potentially to PL.
Conclusions:
- The polysaccharide lyase (PL) in the RT046/ST35 C. difficile strain is a potential key factor contributing to more severe clinical symptoms.
- Genomic comparison highlights the importance of specific genes, like PL, in pathogen virulence.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise role of PL in C. difficile pathogenesis.
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