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Kolte B, Nübel U. Genetic determinants of resistance to antimicrobial therapeutics are rare in publicly available Clostridioides difficile genome sequences. J Antimicrob Chemother 2024; 79:1320-1328. [PMID: 38598696 PMCID: PMC11144481 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkae101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine the frequencies and clonal distributions of putative genetic determinants of resistance to antimicrobials applied for treatment of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), as documented in the genomic record. METHODS We scanned 26 557 C. difficile genome sequences publicly available from the EnteroBase platform for plasmids, point mutations and gene truncations previously reported to reduce susceptibility to vancomycin, fidaxomicin or metronidazole, respectively. We measured the antimicrobial susceptibility of 143 selected C. difficile isolates. RESULTS The frequency of mutations causing reduced susceptibility to vancomycin and metronidazole, respectively, increased strongly after 2000, peaking at up to 52% of all sequenced C. difficile genomes. However, both mutations declined sharply more recently, reflecting major changes in CDI epidemiology. We detected mutations associated with fidaxomicin resistance in several major genotypes, but found no evidence of international spread of resistant clones. The pCD-METRO plasmid, conferring metronidazole resistance, was detected in a single previously unreported C. difficile isolate, recovered from a hospital patient in Germany in 2008. The pX18-498 plasmid, putatively associated with decreased vancomycin susceptibility, was confined to related, recent isolates from the USA. Phenotype measurements confirmed that most of those genetic features were useful predictors of antibiotic susceptibility, even though ranges of MICs typically overlapped among isolates with and without specific mutations. CONCLUSIONS Genomic data suggested that resistance to therapeutic antimicrobial drugs is rare in C. difficile. Public antimicrobial resistance marker databases were not equipped to detect most of the genetic determinants relevant to antibiotic therapy of CDI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baban Kolte
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ—German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Microbial Genome Research, Inhoffenstr. 7B, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
- Technical University Braunschweig, Institute of Microbiology, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Ulrich Nübel
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ—German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Microbial Genome Research, Inhoffenstr. 7B, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
- Technical University Braunschweig, Institute of Microbiology, Braunschweig, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Braunschweig-Hannover, Braunschweig, Germany
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2
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Brouwer L, Carroll A, McNamara E. Genotypic and phenotypic antimicrobial resistance of Irish Clostridioides difficile isolates, 2022. Anaerobe 2024:102857. [PMID: 38670525 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2024.102857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Infection with Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) usually occurs after antibiotic treatment for other infections and can cause gastro-intestinal disorders of variable severity. C. difficile can be resistant to a wide spectrum of antimicrobials. Detection of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is important to direct optimal treatment and surveillance of AMR patterns in the overall population. Correlation between genotypic markers and phenotypic AMR is not yet well defined. The aim for this study is to assess whether and to what extent genotypic determinants of AMR correlate with phenotypic resistance. METHODS 99 C. difficile isolates were phenotypically characterized for resistance to eight antibiotics using Sensititre plates or E-tests. Their genomes were screened for genetic markers of resistance. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated. RESULTS We found high rates of resistance (>50%) to cefoxitin and clindamycin, intermediate rates of resistance (10% - 50%) to moxifloxacin and tetracycline and low rates of resistance (<10%) to imipenem, metronidazole, vancomycin, and rifampicin. For moxifloxacin, tetracycline, and clindamycin, we found a good correlation between genotypic and phenotypic AMR, with an overall accuracy of 96% (95% CI 90%-100%), 78% (95% CI 68%-86%) and 86% (95% CI 77%-92%) respectively. For the other five antibiotics, accurate estimates on the correlation could not be made. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that for moxifloxacin, tetracycline and clindamycin, phenotypic resistance in C. difficile can be predicted by genetic indicators and used for public health purposes. However, for the other five antibiotics, the model is not accurate and further development is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieke Brouwer
- Clostridioides Difficile National Reference Laboratory, Public Health Laboratory, Cherry Orchard Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; European Public Health Microbiology Training Programme (EUPHEM), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Anne Carroll
- Clostridioides Difficile National Reference Laboratory, Public Health Laboratory, Cherry Orchard Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; European Public Health Microbiology Training Programme (EUPHEM), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eleanor McNamara
- Clostridioides Difficile National Reference Laboratory, Public Health Laboratory, Cherry Orchard Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; European Public Health Microbiology Training Programme (EUPHEM), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden
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3
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Dureja C, Rutherford JT, Pavel FB, Norseeda K, Prah I, Sun D, Hevener KE, Hurdle JG. In vivo evaluation of Clostridioides difficile enoyl-ACP reductase II (FabK) inhibition by phenylimidazole unveils a promising narrow-spectrum antimicrobial strategy. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0122223. [PMID: 38265216 PMCID: PMC10916379 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01222-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea, which often stems from disruption of the gut microbiota by broad-spectrum antibiotics. The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant C. difficile strains, combined with disappointing clinical trial results for recent antibiotic candidates, underscores the urgent need for novel CDI antibiotics. To this end, we investigated C. difficile enoyl ACP reductase (CdFabK), a crucial enzyme in de novo fatty acid synthesis, as a drug target for microbiome-sparing antibiotics. To test this concept, we evaluated the efficacy and in vivo spectrum of activity of the phenylimidazole analog 296, which is validated to inhibit intracellular CdFabK. Against major CDI-associated ribotypes 296 had an Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC90) of 2 µg/mL, which was comparable to vancomycin (1 µg/mL), a standard of care antibiotic. In addition, 296 achieved high colonic concentrations and displayed dosed-dependent efficacy in mice with colitis CDI. Mice that were given 296 retained colonization resistance to C. difficile and had microbiomes that resembled the untreated mice. Conversely, both vancomycin and fidaxomicin induced significant changes to mice microbiomes, in a manner consistent with prior reports. CdFabK, therefore, represents a potential target for microbiome-sparing CDI antibiotics, with phenylimidazoles providing a good chemical starting point for designing such agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chetna Dureja
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jacob T. Rutherford
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Fahad B.A. Pavel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Krissada Norseeda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, Hawaii, USA
| | - Isaac Prah
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Dianqing Sun
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, Hawaii, USA
| | - Kirk E. Hevener
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Julian G. Hurdle
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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4
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Markantonis JE, Fallon JT, Madan R, Alam MZ. Clostridioides difficile Infection: Diagnosis and Treatment Challenges. Pathogens 2024; 13:118. [PMID: 38392856 PMCID: PMC10891949 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13020118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is the most important cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea in the United States. The high incidence and recurrence rates of C. difficile infection (CDI), associated with high morbidity and mortality, pose a public health challenge. Although antibiotics targeting C. difficile bacteria are the first treatment choice, antibiotics also disrupt the indigenous gut flora and, therefore, create an environment that is favorable for recurrent CDI. The challenge of treating CDI is further exacerbated by the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of C. difficile, placing it among the top five most urgent antibiotic resistance threats in the USA. The evolution of antibiotic resistance in C. difficile involves the acquisition of new resistance mechanisms, which can be shared among various bacterial species and different C. difficile strains within clinical and community settings. This review provides a summary of commonly used diagnostic tests and antibiotic treatment strategies for CDI. In addition, it discusses antibiotic treatment and its resistance mechanisms. This review aims to enhance our current understanding and pinpoint knowledge gaps in antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in C. difficile, with an emphasis on CDI therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E. Markantonis
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Boulevard, Greenville, NC 27834, USA; (J.E.M.); (J.T.F.)
| | - John T. Fallon
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Boulevard, Greenville, NC 27834, USA; (J.E.M.); (J.T.F.)
| | - Rajat Madan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA;
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA
| | - Md Zahidul Alam
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Boulevard, Greenville, NC 27834, USA; (J.E.M.); (J.T.F.)
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5
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Li X, Wang Y, Cao R, Xiao F, Wang X, Ye L, Xiao Y, Li D, Zhang T. Antimicrobial Resistance of Clostridioides difficile in Children from a Tertiary Pediatric Hospital in Shanghai, China. Infect Drug Resist 2024; 17:329-339. [PMID: 38293314 PMCID: PMC10826549 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s441312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Our previous study reported a high rate of recurrence in children with Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection (CDI) after conventional antibiotic therapy. Here, we aimed to explore whether metronidazole and vancomycin resistant C. difficile isolates are circulating in pediatric CDI. Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) using the agar dilution method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) were performed on C. difficile isolates collected from children with CDI between 2019 and 2022 at the Shanghai Children's Hospital. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on all C. difficile isolates, and the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were identified using Resfinder and the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD). The presence of plasmid pCD-METRO was detected using SRST2 (v0.2.0) against 8 pCD-METRO coding sequences. Results A total of 50 C. difficile isolates were collected from stools of CDI children. The overall resistance rate on all isolates was 30.00% for metronidazole, 6.00% for vancomycin, 0% for rifaximin, 2.00% for rifampin, 24.00% for meropenem, 100.00% for ceftriaxone and clindamycin, 86.00% for erythromycin, 30.0% for levofloxacin, and 50.0% for tetracycline. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) was presented in 44 isolates (88.00%). Sixteen reported potential ARGs relating with resistance to antibiotic classes of aminoglycoside (AAC(6')-Ie-APH(2")-Ia, aad(6), ANT(6)-Ib, APH(2")-If, APH(3')-IIIa), lincosamide-clindamycin-erythromycin (ErmB, ErmQ), fluoroquinolones (CdeA), glycopeptides (vanRG), nucleoside (SAT-4), tetracycline (tetM, tetA(P), tetB(P), tetO), and trimethoprim (dfrF) were identified. However, the pCD-METRO plasmid and vanA/B were not detected in any isolates. Conclusion C. difficile isolates from children with reduced susceptibility to metronidazole and vancomycin are emerging in pediatric CDI in China. The lack of pCD-METRO plasmid and vanA/B associated with reduced antibiotic susceptibility suggests there are additional mechanisms of resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolu Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Shanghai Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yizhong Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Shanghai Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Research Center, Institute of Pediatric Infection, Immunity and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Rong Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Shanghai Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fangfei Xiao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Shanghai Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xufei Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Shanghai Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lin Ye
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Shanghai Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yongmei Xiao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Shanghai Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Shanghai Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Shanghai Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Research Center, Institute of Pediatric Infection, Immunity and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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6
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Oludiran A, Malik A, Zourou AC, Wu Y, Gross SP, Siryapon A, Poudel A, Alleyne K, Adams S, Courson DS, Cotten ML, Purcell EB. Host-defense piscidin peptides as antibiotic adjuvants against Clostridioides difficile. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0295627. [PMID: 38252641 PMCID: PMC10802969 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The spore-forming intestinal pathogen Clostridioides difficile causes multidrug resistant infection with a high rate of recurrence after treatment. Piscidins 1 (p1) and 3 (p3), cationic host defense peptides with micromolar cytotoxicity against C. difficile, sensitize C. difficile to clinically relevant antibiotics tested at sublethal concentrations. Both peptides bind to Cu2+ using an amino terminal copper and nickel binding motif. Here, we investigate the two peptides in the apo and holo states as antibiotic adjuvants against an epidemic strain of C. difficile. We find that the presence of the peptides leads to lower doses of metronidazole, vancomycin, and fidaxomicin to kill C. difficile. The activity of metronidazole, which targets DNA, is enhanced by a factor of 32 when combined with p3, previously shown to bind and condense DNA. Conversely, the activity of vancomycin, which acts at bacterial cell walls, is enhanced 64-fold when combined with membrane-active p1-Cu2+. As shown through microscopy monitoring the permeabilization of membranes of C. difficile cells and vesicle mimics of their membranes, the adjuvant effect of p1 and p3 in the apo and holo states is consistent with a mechanism of action where the peptides enable greater antibiotic penetration through the cell membrane to increase their bioavailability. The variations in effects obtained with the different forms of the peptides reveal that while all piscidins generally sensitize C. difficile to antibiotics, co-treatments can be optimized in accordance with the underlying mechanism of action of the peptides and antibiotics. Overall, this study highlights the potential of antimicrobial peptides as antibiotic adjuvants to increase the lethality of currently approved antibiotic dosages, reducing the risk of incomplete treatments and ensuing drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adenrele Oludiran
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Areej Malik
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
- Biomedical Sciences Program, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Andriana C. Zourou
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Yonghan Wu
- Irvine Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Steven P. Gross
- Ivrine Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Albert Siryapon
- Irvine Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Asia Poudel
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Kwincy Alleyne
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Savion Adams
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - David S. Courson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Myriam L. Cotten
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Erin B. Purcell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
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7
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Spigaglia P, Mastrantonio P, Barbanti F. Antibiotic Resistances of Clostridioides difficile. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1435:169-198. [PMID: 38175476 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-42108-2_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The rapid evolution of antibiotic resistance in Clostridioides difficile and the consequent effects on prevention and treatment of C. difficile infections (CDIs) are a matter of concern for public health. Antibiotic resistance plays an important role in driving C. difficile epidemiology. Emergence of new types is often associated with the emergence of new resistances, and most of the epidemic C. difficile clinical isolates is currently resistant to multiple antibiotics. In particular, it is to worth to note the recent identification of strains with reduced susceptibility to the first-line antibiotics for CDI treatment and/or for relapsing infections. Antibiotic resistance in C. difficile has a multifactorial nature. Acquisition of genetic elements and alterations of the antibiotic target sites, as well as other factors, such as variations in the metabolic pathways or biofilm production, contribute to the survival of this pathogen in the presence of antibiotics. Different transfer mechanisms facilitate the spread of mobile elements among C. difficile strains and between C. difficile and other species. Furthermore, data indicate that both genetic elements and alterations in the antibiotic targets can be maintained in C. difficile regardless of the burden imposed on fitness, and therefore resistances may persist in C. difficile population in absence of antibiotic selective pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Spigaglia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | - Paola Mastrantonio
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Barbanti
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Buddle JE, Fagan RP. Pathogenicity and virulence of Clostridioides difficile. Virulence 2023; 14:2150452. [PMID: 36419222 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2150452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is the most common cause of nosocomial antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and is responsible for a spectrum of diseases characterized by high levels of recurrence, morbidity, and mortality. Treatment is complex, since antibiotics constitute both the main treatment and the major risk factor for infection. Worryingly, resistance to multiple antibiotics is becoming increasingly widespread, leading to the classification of this pathogen as an urgent threat to global health. As a consummate opportunist, C. difficile is well equipped for promoting disease, owing to its arsenal of virulence factors: transmission of this anaerobe is highly efficient due to the formation of robust endospores, and an array of adhesins promote gut colonization. C. difficile produces multiple toxins acting upon gut epithelia, resulting in manifestations typical of diarrheal disease, and severe inflammation in a subset of patients. This review focuses on such virulence factors, as well as the importance of antimicrobial resistance and genome plasticity in enabling pathogenesis and persistence of this important pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Buddle
- Molecular Microbiology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Robert P Fagan
- Molecular Microbiology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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9
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Dureja C, Rutherford JT, Pavel FBA, Norseeda K, Prah I, Sun D, Hevener KE, Hurdle JG. In vivo evaluation of Clostridioides difficile enoyl-ACP reductase II (FabK) Inhibition by phenylimidazole unveils a promising narrow-spectrum antimicrobial strategy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.22.559005. [PMID: 37790427 PMCID: PMC10543012 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.22.559005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea, which often stem from disruption of the gut microbiota by broad-spectrum antibiotics. The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant C. difficile strains, combined with disappointing clinical trials results for recent antibiotic candidates, underscore the urgent need for novel CDI antibiotics. To this end, we investigated C. difficile enoyl ACP reductase (CdFabK), a crucial enzyme in de novo fatty acid synthesis, as a drug target for microbiome-sparing antibiotics. To test this concept, we evaluated the efficacy and in vivo spectrum of activity of the phenylimidazole analog 296, which is validated to inhibit intracellular CdFabK. Against major CDI-associated ribotypes 296 had an MIC90 of 2 μg/ml, which was comparable to vancomycin (1 μg/ml), a standard of care antibiotic. In addition, 296 achieved high colonic concentrations and displayed dosed-dependent efficacy in mice with colitis CDI. Mice that were given 296 retained colonization resistance to C. difficile and had microbiomes that resembled the untreated mice. Conversely, both vancomycin and fidaxomicin induced significant changes to mice microbiomes, in a manner consistent with prior reports. CdFabK therefore represents a potential target for microbiome-sparing CDI antibiotics, with phenylimidazoles providing a good chemical starting point for designing such agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chetna Dureja
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 2121 West Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Jacob T. Rutherford
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 2121 West Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Fahad B. A. Pavel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 881 Madison Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Krissada Norseeda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili Street, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, USA
| | - Isaac Prah
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 2121 West Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Dianqing Sun
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili Street, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, USA
| | - Kirk E. Hevener
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 881 Madison Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Julian G. Hurdle
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 2121 West Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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10
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Malet-Villemagne J, Yucheng L, Evanno L, Denis-Quanquin S, Hugonnet JE, Arthur M, Janoir C, Candela T. Polysaccharide II Surface Anchoring, the Achilles' Heel of Clostridioides difficile. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0422722. [PMID: 36815772 PMCID: PMC10100865 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04227-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell wall glycopolymers (CWPGs) in Gram-positive bacteria have been reported to be involved in several bacterial processes. These polymers, pillars for proteins and S-layer, are essential for the bacterial surface setup, could be essential for growth, and, in pathogens, participate most often in virulence. CWGPs are covalently anchored to peptidoglycan by proteins that belong to the LytR-CpsA-PSr (LCP) family. This anchoring, important for growth, was reported as essential for some bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, but the reason why CWGP anchoring is essential remains unknown. We studied LcpA and LcpB of Clostridioides difficile and showed that they have a redundant activity. To delete both lcp genes, we set up the first conditional-lethal mutant method in C. difficile and showed that polysaccharide II (PSII) anchoring at the bacterial surface is essential for C. difficile survival. In the conditional-lethal mutant, C. difficile morphology was impaired, suggesting that peptidoglycan synthesis was affected. Because Lcp proteins are transferring CWPGs from the C55-undecaprenyl phosphate (also needed in the peptidoglycan synthesis process), we assumed that there was competition between PSII and peptidoglycan synthesis pathways. We confirmed that UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide precursor was accumulated, showing that peptidoglycan synthesis was blocked. Our results provide an explanation for the essentiality of PSII anchoring in C. difficile and suggest that the essentiality of the anchoring of CWPGs in other bacteria can also be explained by the blocking of peptidoglycan synthesis. To conclude, our results suggest that Lcps are potential new targets to combat C. difficile infection. IMPORTANCE Cell wall glycopolymers (CWGPs) in Gram-positive bacteria have been reported to be involved in several bacterial processes. CWGP anchoring to peptidoglycan is important for growth and virulence. We set up the first conditional-lethal mutant method in Clostridioides difficile to study LcpA and LcpB involved in the anchoring of CWPGs to peptidoglycan. This study offers new tools to reveal the role of essential genes in C. difficile. LcpA and LcpB activity was shown to be essential, suggesting that they are potential new targets to combat C. difficile infection. In this study, we also showed that there is competition between the polysaccharide II synthesis pathway and peptidoglycan synthesis that probably exists in other Gram-positive bacteria. A better understanding of these mechanisms allows us to define the Lcp proteins as a therapeutic target for potential design of novel antibiotics against pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Liang Yucheng
- INSERM UMR-S 1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Laurent Evanno
- Biomolécules: Conception, Isolement et Synthèse (BioCIS), Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Orsay, France
| | | | - Jean-Emmanuel Hugonnet
- INSERM UMR-S 1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Michel Arthur
- INSERM UMR-S 1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Claire Janoir
- Micalis Institute, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Thomas Candela
- Micalis Institute, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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11
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Roseboom AM, Ducarmon QR, Hornung BVH, Harmanus C, Crobach MJT, Kuijper EJ, Vossen RHAM, Kloet SL, Smits WK. Carriage of three plasmids in a single human clinical isolate of Clostridioides difficile. Plasmid 2023; 125:102669. [PMID: 36572199 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2022.102669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
A subset of clinical isolates of Clostridioides difficile contains one or more plasmids and these plasmids can harbor virulence and antimicrobial resistance determinants. Despite their potential importance, C. difficile plasmids remain poorly characterized. Here, we provide the complete genome sequence of a human clinical isolate that carries three high-copy number plasmids from three different plasmid families that are therefore compatible. For two of these, we identify a region capable of sustaining plasmid replication in C. difficile that is also compatible with the plasmid pCD630 that is found in many laboratory strains. Together, our data advance our understanding of C. difficile plasmid biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Roseboom
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Quinten R Ducarmon
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Bastian V H Hornung
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Céline Harmanus
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Monique J T Crobach
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Ed J Kuijper
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Rolf H A M Vossen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden Genome Technology Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Susan L Kloet
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden Genome Technology Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Wiep Klaas Smits
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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12
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Romero-Rodríguez A, Martínez de la Peña C, Troncoso-Cotal S, Guzmán C, Sánchez S. Emerging alternatives against Clostridioides difficile infection. Anaerobe 2022; 78:102638. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2022.102638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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13
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Dureja C, Olaitan AO, Hurdle JG. Mechanisms and impact of antimicrobial resistance in Clostridioides difficile. Curr Opin Microbiol 2022; 66:63-72. [PMID: 35077947 PMCID: PMC9064893 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2022.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of antimicrobial resistance in Clostridioides difficile has markedly shaped its epidemiology and detrimentally impacted patient care. C. difficile exhibits resistance to multiple classes of antimicrobials, due to accumulation of horizontally acquired resistance genes and de novo mutations to drug targets. Particularly worrying is that declines in clinical success of firstline CDI antimicrobials coincide with the spread of strains that are more resistant to these drugs. Yet, there is still much to learn regarding the prevalence of genetic elements in clinical isolates, their molecular mechanisms, and the extent to which this information can be translated to develop molecular diagnostics that improve antimicrobial prescribing and antimicrobial stewardship approaches for CDI. Thus, this perspective discusses current understanding and knowledge gaps of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in C. difficile, emphasizing on CDI therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chetna Dureja
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 2121 West Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Abiola O Olaitan
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 2121 West Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Julian G Hurdle
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 2121 West Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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14
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Genetic Mechanisms of Vancomycin Resistance in Clostridioides difficile: A Systematic Review. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11020258. [PMID: 35203860 PMCID: PMC8868222 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11020258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance to treatments for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) poses a significant threat to global health. C. difficile is widely thought to be susceptible to oral vancomycin, which is increasingly the mainstay of CDI treatment. However, clinical labs do not conduct C. difficile susceptibility testing, presenting a challenge to detecting the emergence and impact of resistance. In this systematic review, we describe gene determinants and associated clinical and laboratory mechanisms of vancomycin resistance in C. difficile, including drug-binding site alterations, efflux pumps, RNA polymerase mutations, and biofilm formation. Additional research is needed to further characterize these mechanisms and understand their clinical impact.
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15
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Coullon H, Candela T. Clostridioides difficile peptidoglycan modifications. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 65:156-161. [PMID: 34883390 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The cortex and peptidoglycan of Clostridioides difficile have been poorly investigated. This last decade, the interest increased because these two structures are highly modified and these modifications may be involved in antimicrobial resistance. For example, C. difficile peptidoglycan deacetylation was recently reported to be involved in lysozyme resistance. Modifications may also be important for spore cortex synthesis or spore germination, which is essential in C. difficile pathogenesis. As such, the enzymes responsible for modifications of the peptidoglycan and/or cortex could be new drug target candidates or used as anti-C. difficile agents, as seen for the CD11 autolysin. In this review, we focus on C. difficile peptidoglycan and cortex and compare their structures with those of other well studied bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héloise Coullon
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France; Division of Infectious Diseases, Dept. of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Thomas Candela
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
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16
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Smits WK, Roseboom AM, Corver J. Plasmids of Clostridioides difficile. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 65:87-94. [PMID: 34775173 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Plasmids are ubiquitous in the bacterial world. In many microorganisms, plasmids have been implicated in important aspects of bacterial physiology and contribute to horizontal gene transfer. In contrast, knowledge on plasmids of the enteropathogen Clostridioides difficile is limited, and there appears to be no phenotypic consequence to carriage of many of the identified plasmids. Emerging evidence suggests, however, that plasmids are common in C. difficile and may encode functions relevant to pathogenesis, such as antimicrobial resistance and toxin production. Here, we review our current knowledge about the abundance, functions and clinical relevance of plasmids in C. difficile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiep Klaas Smits
- Experimental Bacteriology Group, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Anna Maria Roseboom
- Experimental Bacteriology Group, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Corver
- Experimental Bacteriology Group, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden, The Netherlands
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17
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O’Grady K, Knight DR, Riley TV. Antimicrobial resistance in Clostridioides difficile. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2021; 40:2459-2478. [DOI: 10.1007/s10096-021-04311-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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