Characterization of the sporulation initiation pathway of Clostridium difficile and its role in toxin production

摘要: Clostridium difficile is responsible for significant mortality and morbidity in the hospitalized elderly. C. spores are infectious a major factor contributing to nosocomial transmission. The Spo0A response regulator master sporulation initiation can influence many other cellular processes. Using ClosTron gene knockout system, we inactivated genes encoding putative sporulation-associated sensor histidine kinase difficile. Inactivation of spo0A resulted an asporogeneous phenotype, whereas inactivation reduced difficle capacity by 3.5-fold, suggesting that this also has role initiation. Furthermore, either or marked defect toxin production. Therefore, signaling pathway modulates its activity appear be involved regulation synthesis In addition, was directly phosphorylated kinase, supporting hypothesis controlled two-component signal transduction system rather than multicomponent phosphorelay. implications these findings sporulation, virulence, transmission discussed.