Genomic and phenotypic characterization of a Clostridioides difficile strain of the epidemic ST37 type from China

Chunhui Li; Chunhui Li; Joshua Heuler; Duolong Zhu; Xiujuan Meng; Soumyadeep Chakraborty; Céline Harmanus; Shaohui Wang; Zhong Peng; Wiep Klaas Smits; Anhua Wu; Xingmin Sun

doi:10.3389/fcimb.2024.1412408

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (Oct 2024)

Genomic and phenotypic characterization of a Clostridioides difficile strain of the epidemic ST37 type from China

Chunhui Li,
Chunhui Li,
Joshua Heuler,
Duolong Zhu,
Xiujuan Meng,
Soumyadeep Chakraborty,
Céline Harmanus,
Shaohui Wang,
Zhong Peng,
Wiep Klaas Smits,
Anhua Wu,
Xingmin Sun

Affiliations

Chunhui Li: Department of Infection Control Center of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
Chunhui Li: Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
Joshua Heuler: Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
Duolong Zhu: Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
Xiujuan Meng: Department of Infection Control Center of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
Soumyadeep Chakraborty: Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
Céline Harmanus: Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
Shaohui Wang: Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
Zhong Peng: Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
Wiep Klaas Smits: Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
Anhua Wu: Department of Infection Control Center of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
Xingmin Sun: Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1412408
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14

Abstract

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Clostridioides difficile strains of sequence type (ST) 37, primarily including PCR ribotype (RT) 017, are prevalent in mainland China. Our study aimed to compare the major virulence factors of an epidemic C. difficile isolate of ST37 type (Xy06) from China with the well-characterized C. difficile reference strains R20291 (RT027) and CD630E (ST54), as well as a Chinese ST54 strain (Xy07) isolated from the same hospital. The Xy06 genome was predicted to harbor two complete prophages and several transposon-like elements. Comparative analysis of PaLoc revealed a truncated tcdA gene, a functional tcdB gene, a functional tcdC gene, and well-conserved tcdR and tcdE genes. Phenotypic comparisons showed that Xy06 was a robust producer of TcdB, readily sporulated and germinated, and strongly bound to human gut epithelial cells. In a mouse model of C. difficile infection, Xy06 was more virulent than strains CD630E and Xy07 and was comparable to strain R20291 in virulence. Our data suggest the potential threat of the epidemic ST37 strains in China.

Published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

ISSN: 2235-2988 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Microbiology
Website: http://www.frontiersin.org/Cellular-and-Infection-Microbiology

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