Clostridium difficile Is an Autotrophic Bacterial Pathogen

摘要: During the last decade, Clostridium difficile infection showed a dramatic increase in incidence and virulence Northern hemisphere. This incessantly challenging disease is leading cause of antibiotic-associated nosocomial infectious diarrhea became life-threatening especially among elderly people. It generally assumed that all human bacterial pathogens are heterotrophic organisms, being either saccharolytic or proteolytic. So far, this has not been questioned as colonization gut gives access to an environment, rich organic nutrients. Here, we present data C. (both clinical rumen isolates) also able grow on CO2+H2 sole carbon energy source, thus representing first identified autotrophic pathogen. Comparison several different strains revealed high conservation genes for growth ability use gas mixtures decreases lost upon prolonged culturing under conditions. The metabolic flexibility (heterotrophic various substrates well autotrophy) could allow organism avoid competition by niche differentiation contribute its survival when stressed unfavorable conditions death other bacteria. may be important trait pathogenicity difficile.