title: Evaluation of novel assays to assess the influence of different iron sources on the growth of Clostridium difficile.
abstract: The ability of four Clostridium difficile strains to utilize various exogenous organic and inorganic iron sources for growth under iron-depleted (250 μM DPP) and iron-limited (75 μM DPP) conditions was analyzed in liquid broth cultures grown in tubes and in microtiter plates, and data compared with results from a bioassay developed on solid media. The growth profile of C. difficile varied depending on the iron source and availability. Addition of FeSO(4), FeCl(3), Fe citrate and ferritin allowed growth in an iron-depleted environment whereas glycoproteins (iron-saturated and low-iron lactoferrin, apo- and holo-transferrin) and heme proteins (hemoglobin, hematin and hemin) did not. All iron sources, except lactoferrin, were able to restore bacterial growth under iron-limited conditions to varying extents. The results demonstrated that the broth microtiter assay developed here was reproducible, reliable and convenient for high-throughput analysis of the growth of C. difficile compared to alternative traditional methods.
authors.affiliation: Microbial Ecology, Gut Health Division, Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Bucksburn, UK.
authors.forename: Ramona C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Cernat
authors.forename: Karen P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D015082:2,2'-Dipyridyl / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D015082:2,2'-Dipyridyl