title: Capsule-like structures in Clostridium difficile strains.
abstract: Fourteen strains of Clostridium difficile, previously characterized by SDS-PAGE, were examined for the presence of surface structures. None of the strains were fimbriated but, when grown in the presence of glucose, all exhibited a thin ruthenium red-positive layer. Two strains, belonging to different electrophoretic groups, were also observed after treatment with homologous and heterologous antisera. The strain belonging to the electrophoretic group 2, usually associated with the disease, showed a 30-80nm thick capsule in ultrathin sections. The strains belonging to group 5, mainly observed in isolates from healthy children, exhibited a thinner polysaccharide layer (10-20 nm). No stabilization was observed when these strains were treated with heterologous antisera. This capsule-like material did not seem to be associated with adhesive properties of C. difficile strains.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Ultrastrutture, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baldassarri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Donelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cerquetti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mastrantonio
mesh_terms: D002473:Cell Wall / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012430:Ruthenium Red
chemical_list: D012430:Ruthenium Red