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Expression of Clostridium difficileToxins A and B and Their Sigma Factor TcdD Is Controlled by Temperature
- Source :
- Infection and Immunity; April 2003, Vol. 71 Issue: 4 p1784-1793, 10p
- Publication Year :
- 2003
-
Abstract
- ABSTRACTGrowth temperature was found to control the expression of toxins A and B in Clostridium difficileVPI 10463,with a maximum at 37°C and low levels at 22 and 42°C in both peptone yeast (PY) and defined media. The up-regulation of toxin A and B mRNA and protein levels upon temperature upshift from 22 to 37°C followed the same kinetics, showing that temperature control occurred at the level of transcription. Experiments with Clostridium perfringensusing gusAas a reporter gene demonstrated that both toxin gene promoters were temperature controlled and that their high activity at 37°C was dependent on the alternative sigma factor TcdD. Furthermore, tcdDwas found to be autoinduced at 37°C. Glucose down-regulated all these responses in the C. perfringensconstructs, similar to its impact on toxin production in C. difficilePY broth cultures. C. difficileproteins induced at 37°C and thus coregulated with the toxins by temperature were demonstrated by two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and identified as enzymes involved in butyric acid production and as electron carriers in oxidation-reduction reactions. The regulation of toxin production in C. difficileby temperature is a novel finding apparently reflecting an adaptation of the expression of its virulence to mammalian hosts.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00199567 and 10985522
- Volume :
- 71
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Supplemental Index
- Journal :
- Infection and Immunity
- Publication Type :
- Periodical
- Accession number :
- ejs57556139
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.71.4.1784-1793.2003