Identification of large cryptic plasmids in Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Plasmid
Publisher
Elsevier BV
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences / Department of Population Health
RAS ID
27217
Abstract
Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile is a major bacterial pathogen of both humans and animals. Several species of pathogenic clostridia are known to harbour large plasmids with combinations of virulence, antibiotic resistance and metabolism determinants. Small cryptic plasmids have been previously identified in C. difficile, but there is a lack of recent work examining the prevalence and heterogeneity of plasmids in this diverse bacterial species. A survey of clinical and historical isolates of C. difficile showed that several strains carry large plasmids. Following whole-genome sequencing of these diverse strains, 42–47 kb plasmids with high nucleotide identity were found to be carried in 4.9% (n = 451) of isolates, with no firm connection to the strain backgrounds. These plasmids appear to have arisen as a result of recombination with a bacteriophage, but contain key plasmid features, such as a putative plasmid replication and partitioning locus. As no virulence factors or antibiotic resistance determinants were identified, further work is required to identify the selective advantage that must exist for the host isolates to maintain these large plasmids.
DOI
10.1016/j.plasmid.2018.04.001
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Comments
Amy, J., Bulach, D., Knight, D., Riley, T., Johanesen, P., & Lyras, D. (2018). Identification of large cryptic plasmids in Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile. Plasmid, 96, 25-38.
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