Characterisation of Clostridium difficile biofilm formation, a role for Spo0A.

Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive anaerobic, spore-forming bacillus that is the leading cause of nosocomial diarrhoea worldwide. We demonstrate that C. difficile aggregates and forms biofilms in vitro on abiotic surfaces. These polymicrobial aggregates are attached to each other and to an abi...

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Main Authors: Lisa F Dawson, Esmeralda Valiente, Alexandra Faulds-Pain, Elizabeth H Donahue, Brendan W Wren
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2012-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0050527&type=printable
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author Lisa F Dawson
Esmeralda Valiente
Alexandra Faulds-Pain
Elizabeth H Donahue
Brendan W Wren
author_facet Lisa F Dawson
Esmeralda Valiente
Alexandra Faulds-Pain
Elizabeth H Donahue
Brendan W Wren
author_sort Lisa F Dawson
collection DOAJ
description Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive anaerobic, spore-forming bacillus that is the leading cause of nosocomial diarrhoea worldwide. We demonstrate that C. difficile aggregates and forms biofilms in vitro on abiotic surfaces. These polymicrobial aggregates are attached to each other and to an abiotic surface by an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). The EPS matrix provides the scaffold bonding together vegetative cells and spores, as well as forming a protective barrier for vegetative cells against oxygen stress. The master regulator of sporulation, Spo0A, may play a key role in biofilm formation, as genetic inactivation of spo0A in strain R20291 exhibits decreased biofilm formation. Our findings highlight an important attribute of C. difficile pathogenesis, which may have significant implications for infection, treatment and relapse.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2012-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-ae4c8b1a56774994b7f70f2baf58de482025-08-20T03:26:38ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032012-01-01712e5052710.1371/journal.pone.0050527Characterisation of Clostridium difficile biofilm formation, a role for Spo0A.Lisa F DawsonEsmeralda ValienteAlexandra Faulds-PainElizabeth H DonahueBrendan W WrenClostridium difficile is a Gram-positive anaerobic, spore-forming bacillus that is the leading cause of nosocomial diarrhoea worldwide. We demonstrate that C. difficile aggregates and forms biofilms in vitro on abiotic surfaces. These polymicrobial aggregates are attached to each other and to an abiotic surface by an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). The EPS matrix provides the scaffold bonding together vegetative cells and spores, as well as forming a protective barrier for vegetative cells against oxygen stress. The master regulator of sporulation, Spo0A, may play a key role in biofilm formation, as genetic inactivation of spo0A in strain R20291 exhibits decreased biofilm formation. Our findings highlight an important attribute of C. difficile pathogenesis, which may have significant implications for infection, treatment and relapse.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0050527&type=printable
spellingShingle Lisa F Dawson
Esmeralda Valiente
Alexandra Faulds-Pain
Elizabeth H Donahue
Brendan W Wren
Characterisation of Clostridium difficile biofilm formation, a role for Spo0A.
PLoS ONE
title Characterisation of Clostridium difficile biofilm formation, a role for Spo0A.
title_full Characterisation of Clostridium difficile biofilm formation, a role for Spo0A.
title_fullStr Characterisation of Clostridium difficile biofilm formation, a role for Spo0A.
title_full_unstemmed Characterisation of Clostridium difficile biofilm formation, a role for Spo0A.
title_short Characterisation of Clostridium difficile biofilm formation, a role for Spo0A.
title_sort characterisation of clostridium difficile biofilm formation a role for spo0a
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0050527&type=printable
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