Genomics of clostridial pathogens: implication of extrachromosomal elements in pathogenicity.
The recently decoded genomes of the major clostridial toxin-producing pathogens Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium tetani, Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium difficile have provided a huge amount of new sequence data. Recent studies have focused on the identification and investigation of pathogenic determinants and the regulatory events governing their expression. The sequence data revealed also the genomic background of virulence genes, as well as the contribution of extrachromosomal elements to a pathogenic phenotype. This has generated new insights in clostridial pathogenesis - and will continue to do so in the future - and has deepened our understanding of the anaerobic lifestyle of clostridial species.
Brüggemann
Holger
H
Institut Pasteur, Unité de Génomique des Microorganismes Pathogènes, 28 Rue du Docteur Roux, 75 724 Paris Cedex 15, France. hbruegg@pasteur.fr
D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000235:genetics; D003013:Clostridium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000235:genetics; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000235:genetics; D003017:Clostridium tetani / Q000235:genetics; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
D037521:Virulence Factors