Enterotoxin A of Clostridium difficile and α-Gal Epitopes

摘要: Clostridium difficile, a noninvasive Gram positive toxigenic bacterium, is the principal agent of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and colitis, one most important complications antibiotic therapy (Kelly et al., 1994). C. difficile colitis affects millions patients in hospitals nursing homes around world represents frequent form infectious hospitalized patients. Thus, up to quarter can be infected with this anaerobic pathogen many nosocomial outbreaks infection have been described (McFarland 1989). One characteristic features acute inflammatory infiltrate colonic mucosa which associated severe destruction epithelial cells toxin-mediated disease. Studies animal models coupled receptor binding experiments documented that difficile-toxin A induced intestinal inflammation mediated by toxin carbohydrate containing α-gal epitopes.