title: The role of flagella in Clostridium difficile pathogenicity.
abstract: Clostridium difficile is widely publicised as a problem in the health-care system. Disruption of the normal gut microbiota by antibiotic therapy allows C. difficile to colonise the colon. On colonisation, C. difficile produces two toxins that lead to disease, with symptoms ranging from mild-to-severe diarrhoea, to fulminant and often fatal pseudomembranous colitis (PMC). How C. difficile establishes initial colonisation of the host is an area of active investigation. Recently there has been increased research into the role of C. difficile flagella in colonisation and adherence. Novel research has also elucidated a more complex role of flagella in C. difficile virulence pertaining to the regulation of toxin gene expression. This review focuses on new insights into the specific role of C. difficile flagella in colonisation and toxin gene expression.
authors: Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. Electronic address: emma.stevenson@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors: Emma
authors: E
authors: Stevenson
authors: Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
authors: Nigel P
authors: NP
authors: Minton
authors: Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
authors: Sarah A
authors: SA
authors: Kuehne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005407:Flagella / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; C097681:FlgE protein, Bacteria; C064971:FliA protein, Bacteria; D012808:Sigma Factor; C041348:tcdA protein, Clostridium difficile; C031815:toxB protein, Clostridium difficile; C076733:FlaD protein, Bacteria
keywords: flagellar gene regulation; toxin expression