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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 1, 2026

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

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

Published on: December 10, 2016

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

This summary is machine-generated.

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.

Keywords:

C. difficile clades disease genomics

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Last Updated: Apr 1, 2026

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Published on: December 10, 2016

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Culturing and Maintaining Clostridium difficile in an Anaerobic Environment

Culturing and Maintaining Clostridium difficile in an Anaerobic Environment

Published on: September 14, 2013

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.