Title |
Activate to Eradicate: Inhibition of Clostridium difficile Spore Outgrowth by the Synergistic Effects of Osmotic Activation and Nisin
|
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Published in |
PLOS ONE, January 2013
|
DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0054740 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Michelle M. Nerandzic, Curtis J. Donskey |
Abstract |
Germination is the irreversible loss of spore-specific properties prior to outgrowth. Because germinating spores become more susceptible to killing by stressors, induction of germination has been proposed as a spore control strategy. However, this strategy is limited by superdormant spores that remain unaffected by germinants. Harsh chemicals and heat activation are effective for stimulating germination of superdormant spores but are impractical for use in a hospital setting, where Clostridium difficile spores present a challenge. Here, we tested whether osmotic activation solutes will provide a mild alternative for stimulation of superdormant C. difficile spores in the presence of germinants as previously demonstrated in several species of Bacillus. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that the limitations of superdormancy can be circumvented with a combined approach using nisin, a FDA-approved safe bacteriocin, to inhibit outgrowth of germinated spores and osmotic activation solutes to enhance outgrowth inhibition by stimulating superdormant spores. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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United States | 1 | 50% |
Unknown | 1 | 50% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
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Members of the public | 1 | 50% |
Scientists | 1 | 50% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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United Kingdom | 1 | 2% |
Unknown | 58 | 98% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 15 | 25% |
Researcher | 10 | 17% |
Student > Bachelor | 8 | 14% |
Student > Master | 8 | 14% |
Professor > Associate Professor | 4 | 7% |
Other | 8 | 14% |
Unknown | 6 | 10% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 26 | 44% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 7 | 12% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 4 | 7% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 3 | 5% |
Engineering | 2 | 3% |
Other | 8 | 14% |
Unknown | 9 | 15% |