ArticleGenome biology and evolution2014
Evolutionary history of the Clostridium difficile pathogenicity locus.
Article in Genome biology and evolution, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 127 papers.
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Who cites it
127 citing papers in PubMed, 186 citations in OpenAlex.
- The prevalence and molecular epidemiology ofEmerging microbes & infections · 2026Observational
- From colonization to infection: Genomic evolution of Clostridioides difficile pathogenesis.Cell reports · 2026Review
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- Collective fluctuations underlying nanobody inhibitory activity targetingbioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- Wastewater reuse for production of plant-based foods: does spore-formingApplied and environmental microbiology · 2026Review
- Phylogenomic analysis of the collagen-like BclA proteins inApplied and environmental microbiology · 2026Article
- Empowering global disease surveillance with CURED: a tool for rapid identification of unique genomic biomarkers.mSystems · 2026Article
- Comparative genomic analysis of Clostridioides difficile strains in Mexico: insights into virulence and resistance.Access microbiology · 2026Article
- Characterization of the clade 4 non-toxigenicFEMS microbes · 2026Article
- History and Evolution of the HypervirulentMicroorganisms · 2025Review
- Phenotypic analysis of variousApplied and environmental microbiology · 2025Article
- Use of PCR cycle threshold values for toxins A and B quantification in Clostridioides difficile infections.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Unique growth and morphology properties of Clade 5bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2025Article
- Community-AcquiredInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Unique growth and morphology properties of Clade 5 Clostridioides difficile strains revealed by single-cell time-lapse microscopy.PLoS pathogens · 2025Article
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- Genomic analysis of a novel ST11(PR34365)Open life sciences · 2025Article
- Mechanisms ofFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2025Review
- A multivalent mRNA-LNP vaccine protects againstScience (New York, N.Y.) · 2024Article
67 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
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Authors and funding
15 authors at 7 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
The symptoms of Clostridium difficile infection are caused by toxins expressed from its 19 kb pathogenicity locus (PaLoc). Stable integration of the PaLoc is suggested by its single chromosomal location and the clade specificity of its different genetic variants. However, the PaLoc is variably present, even among closely related strains, and thus resembles a mobile genetic element. Our aim was to explain these apparently conflicting observations by reconstructing the evolutionary history of the PaLoc. Phylogenetic analyses and annotation of the regions spanning the PaLoc were performed using C. difficile population-representative genomes chosen from a collection of 1,693 toxigenic (PaLoc present) and nontoxigenic (PaLoc absent) isolates. Comparison of the core genome and PaLoc phylogenies demonstrated an eventful evolutionary history, with distinct PaLoc variants acquired clade specifically after divergence. In particular, our data suggest a relatively recent PaLoc acquisition in clade 4. Exchanges and losses of the PaLoc DNA have also occurred, via long homologous recombination events involving flanking chromosomal sequences. The most recent loss event occurred ∼30 years ago within a clade 1 genotype. The genetic organization of the clade 3 PaLoc was unique in containing a stably integrated novel transposon (designated Tn6218), variants of which were found at multiple chromosomal locations. Tn6218 elements were Tn916-related but nonconjugative and occasionally contained genes conferring resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics. The evolutionary histories of two contrasting but clinically important genetic elements were thus characterized: the PaLoc, mobilized rarely via homologous recombination, and Tn6218, mobilized frequently through transposition.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.