The biomimetic effects of spore conversion elements (SCEs) on the germination of C. difficile 027 spores
(2014) HIS Conference Lyon — Location: Lyon, France (16.November.2014)
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- BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile (CD) endospores play a significant role in the pathogenesis and transmission of CD-infection. Artificially inducing spore germination may have important implications in controlling and preventing CDIs in hospitals. AIMS: To assess the biomimetic effect of synthetic agents (SCEs), based on compounds found in the human gastrointestinal system, on the germination of C. difficile spores. METHODS: C. difficile 027 spore suspensions (~106cfu) were transferred to test-SCEs (TGA, STA, TGL, PCA, CDA, DCS, GYC, LCS, LAR and LSZ) prepared in distilled-water (DW) or cooked-meat broth (CMB) [final concentration: 0.05, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0%(w/v)] or in a control suspension (0% SCE). Preparations were incubated anaerobically for 48hours at 37°C. Vegetative cells were eliminated by heat-treatment in a water-bath (60°C for 30mins). Serial dilutions of assays with/without heat-shock were spread-plated onto Braziers agar. Germination was determined by calculating percentage differences of C. difficile numbers grown on Brazier plates before and after heat-treatment. RESULTS: Nutrient-availability induced germination from 21 CFU to 76 CFU (CMB, 55%) of C. difficile spores compared to the number of spores converted with no nutrient fell from 89 CFU to 73 CFU (DW; 21%), P<0.0001). Supplementing assays with 0.5% PCA, DCS or TGA increased the conversion of spores by 40, 55 and 60% respectively (P=0.006) without the requirement of a nutrient source (distilled-water only). LCS, GLY or LAR, did not induce further germination regardless of the concentration used (P>0.05). PCA inhibited germination at all concentrations when present in a nutrient-rich environment compared to CMB alone (P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Using biomimetic compounds such as DCS or TGA to induce germination of CD-spores may have implications for novel antimicrobials/disinfectants while PCA may have therapeutic applications in controlling/suppressing C. difficile propagation inside the gastrointestinal tract.
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Solvay, M. (2014). The biomimetic effects of spore conversion elements (SCEs) on the germination of C. difficile 027 spores. HIS Conference Lyon, Lyon, France. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/51304