title: Genome sequencing of multidrug resistant novel Clostridium sp. BL8 reveals its potential for pathogenicity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The human gut microbiome is important for maintaining the health status of the host. Clostridia are key members of the human gut microbiome, carrying out several important functions in the gut environment. Hence understanding the role of different Clostridium species isolated from human gut is essential. The present study was aimed at investigating the role of novel Clostridium sp. isolate BL8 in human gut using genome sequencing as a tool.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The genome analysis of Clostridium sp. BL8 showed the presence of several adaptive features like bile resistance, presence of sensory and regulatory systems, presence of oxidative stress managing systems and presence of membrane transport systems. The genome of Clostridium sp. BL8 consists of a wide variety of virulence factors like phospholipase C (alpha toxin), hemolysin, aureolysin and exfoliative toxin A, as well as adhesion factors, proteases, Type IV secretion system and antibiotic resistance genes. In vitro antibiotic sensitivity testing showed that Clostridium sp. BL8 was resistant to 11 different tested antibiotics belonging to 6 different classes. The cell cytotoxicity assay confirmed the cytotoxic effect of Clostridium sp. BL8 cells, which killed 40% of the Vero cells after 4 hrs of incubation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clostridium sp. BL8 has adapted for survival in human gut environment, with presence of different adaptive features. The presence of several virulence factors and cell cytotoxic activity indicate that Clostridium sp. BL8 has a potential to cause infections in humans, however further in vivo studies are necessary to ascertain this fact.
authors: Microbial Culture Collection, National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411 007, Maharashtra, India.|Current Address: Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Guldhedsgatan 10, SE-413 46, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors: Nachiket Prakash
authors: NP
authors: Marathe
authors: Microbial Culture Collection, National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411 007, Maharashtra, India.
authors: Sudarshan Anand
authors: SA
authors: Shetty
authors: Agharkar Research Institute, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar Road, Pune 411004, Maharashtra, India.
authors: Vikram B
authors: VB
authors: Lanjekar
authors: Microbial Culture Collection, National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411 007, Maharashtra, India.
authors: Mandar Hemant
authors: MH
authors: Rasane
authors: Agharkar Research Institute, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar Road, Pune 411004, Maharashtra, India.
authors: Dilip R
authors: DR
authors: Ranade
authors: Microbial Culture Collection, National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411 007, Maharashtra, India.
authors: Yogesh S
authors: YS
authors: Shouche
keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Clostridium; Ion Torrent PGM™; Virulence