Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 1, 2026
06:51
Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291
Published on: December 10, 2016
13.4K
An update on Clostridioides difficile population structure and genomics
Merilyn A Beebe1, Joseph A Sorg1
1Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Clinical Microbiology Reviews
|March 31, 2026
Summary
Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) strains show diverse evolution across clades, impacting infection severity and treatment. Understanding genetic variation and mobile elements is key for effective C. diff infection management.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genomics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) has been studied since 1935.
- Thousands of C. diff isolates reveal a diverse phylogeny with five main clades and cryptic clades.
- Clades 2 and 5 are well-studied, linked to severe C. diff infections (CDI) and recurrence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the phylogenetic diversity of Clostridioides difficile.
- To investigate the genetic basis of variation and its association with clinical outcomes.
- To highlight the role of mobile genetic elements in C. diff evolution.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenetic analysis of C. diff isolates.
- Genomic comparison across different clades.
- Association studies between genetic features and clinical phenotypes.
Main Results:
- C. diff exhibits significant phylogenetic diversity across clades.
- Accessory genome variations, often driven by mobile genetic elements, contribute to clade divergence.
- Mobile genetic elements facilitate the co-evolution of antibiotic resistance and virulence factors.
Conclusions:
- C. diff clades display distinct genetic characteristics and clinical associations.
- Mobile genetic elements are crucial drivers of C. diff adaptation and evolution.
- Future studies must incorporate diverse C. diff strains for comprehensive understanding and treatment development.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Microbiota of the Large Intestine
40
The large intestine hosts the most densely populated microbial ecosystem in the human body. This complex community primarily consists of anaerobic bacteria, with Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) as the predominant groups. The distribution of these microbes varies along different sections of the large intestine, influenced by local environmental factors such as oxygen availability and nutrient composition.The cecum, located at the beginning of the large...
40
01:29Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine
1.9K
The gut microbiome is formed by a vast and diverse community of bacteria that colonizes our large intestine. These bacteria start residing in the gut from birth and continue diversifying throughout life, influenced by factors such as diet, lifestyle, and stress. The gut bacterial community also includes bacteria from food and those that enter the colon through the anus.
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.
1.9K
01:22Introduction to the Human Microbiota
68
Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity,...
68
01:29Modern Molecular Taxonomy
835
Advancements in molecular biology have revolutionized the identification and characterization of bacteria, with multiple methods leveraging DNA sequencing for enhanced precision. As sequencing technologies improve and costs decline, these approaches are increasingly used in clinical, environmental, and evolutionary studies.Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) examines several housekeeping genes, essential chromosomal genes encoding cellular functions, to distinguish strains. Approximately...
835
01:12Bacterial Toxins
49
Bacterial toxins are sophisticated virulence factors that enable pathogenic bacteria to interact with, invade, and damage host tissues. These toxins fall broadly into two types: protein exotoxins, which are secreted into the environment and target specific host receptors, and lipopolysaccharide endotoxins, which are structural components of the bacterial outer membrane released primarily during bacterial lysis or membrane shedding. Exotoxins generally act more selectively, binding to cell...
49
01:24Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes
586
The phylum Tenericutes, which includes the single class Mollicutes, comprises bacteria that lack cell walls. The term "Mollicutes" derives from the Latin word mollis, meaning "soft." These organisms are among the smallest known and are commonly referred to as mycoplasmas due to the prominence of the genus Mycoplasma, which includes well-known human pathogens. Despite their inability to stain gram-positively (a result of their lack of cell walls), mycoplasmas are phylogenetically related to the...
586