Publication Database

Adaptation of host transmission cycle during Clostridium difficile speciation (2019)

Art

Zeitschriftenartikel / wissenschaftlicher Beitrag

Autoren

Kumar, Nitin

Browne, Hilary P.

Viciani, Elisa

Forster, Samuel C.

Clare, Simon

Harcourt, Katherine

Stares, Mark D.

Dougan, Gordon

Fairley, Derek J.

Roberts, Paul

Pirmohamed, Munir

Clokie, Martha R. J.

Jensen, Mie Birgitte Frid

Hargreaves, Katherine R.

Ip, Margaret

Wieler, Lothar H. (WE 7)

Seyboldt, Christian

Norén, Torbjörn

Riley, Thomas V.

Kuijper, Ed J.

Wren, Brendan W.

Lawley, Trevor D.

Quelle

Nature genetics

Bandzählung: 51

Heftzählung: 9

Seiten: 1315 – 1320

ISSN: 1061-4036

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

URL (Volltext): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-019-0478-8

DOI: 10.1038/s41588-019-0478-8

Pubmed: 31406348

Kontakt

Institut für Mikrobiologie und Tierseuchen

Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 51843 / 66949
mikrobiologie@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Bacterial speciation is a fundamental evolutionary process characterized by diverging genotypic and phenotypic properties. However, the selective forces that affect genetic adaptations and how they relate to the biological changes that underpin the formation of a new bacterial species remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the spore-forming, healthcare-associated enteropathogen Clostridium difficile is actively undergoing speciation. Through large-scale genomic analysis of 906 strains, we demonstrate that the ongoing speciation process is linked to positive selection on core genes in the newly forming species that are involved in sporulation and the metabolism of simple dietary sugars. Functional validation shows that the new C. difficile produces spores that are more resistant and have increased sporulation and host colonization capacity when glucose or fructose is available for metabolism. Thus, we report the formation of an emerging C. difficile species, selected for metabolizing simple dietary sugars and producing high levels of resistant spores, that is adapted for healthcare-mediated transmission.