title: [Clostridium difficile spores and its relevance in the persistence and transmission of the infection].
abstract: C. difficile is an anaerobic spore former pathogen and the most important etiologic agent of nosocomial and community acquired antibiotics associated diarrheas. C. difficile infections (CDI) are responsible for an elevated rate of morbidity in developed and developing countries. Although the major virulence factors responsible for clinical symptoms of CDI are the two toxins TcdA and TcdB, C. difficile spores are the main vehicle of infection, persistence and transmission of CDI. Recent work has unrevealed unique properties of C. difficile spores that make them remarkable morphotypes of persistence and transmission in the host, including their resistance to antibiotics, the host immune response and disinfectants. The present review summarizes relevant aspects of C. difficile spore biology that have major implications from a clinical and medical perspective.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Barra-Carrasco
authors: Cristian
authors: C
authors: Hernández-Rocha
authors: Patricio
authors: P
authors: Ibáñez
authors: Ana M
authors: AM
authors: Guzmán-Durán
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Álvarez-Lobos
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Paredes-Sabja
mesh_terms: D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D037521:Virulence Factors
chemical_list: D037521:Virulence Factors