Unveiling the impact of antibiotic stress on biofilm formation and expression of toxin-antitoxin system genes in Clostridium difficile clinical isolates

• Published in: Molecular biology reports 2024-12, Vol.51 (1), p.1060, Article 1060
• Main Authors: Cheraghi, Nasim, Khoshnood, Saeed, Sadeghifard, Nourkhoda, Khodaei, Niloufar, Asadollahi, Parisa, Bastaminejad, Saiyad, Kouhsari, Ebrahim, Omidi, Nazanin, Kalani, Behrooz Sadeghi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Anatomy; Animal Biochemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibiotics; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Bacterial Toxins - genetics; Biofilms; Biofilms - drug effects; Biofilms - growth & development; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Clinical isolates; Clostridioides difficile - drug effects; Clostridioides difficile - genetics; Clostridium difficile; Clostridium Infections - genetics; Clostridium Infections - microbiology; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial - drug effects; Histology; Humans; Life Sciences; Metronidazole; Metronidazole - pharmacology; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Morphology; Original Article; Toxin-Antitoxin Systems - genetics; Toxins; Vancomycin; Vancomycin - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0301-4851; 1573-4978; 1573-4978
• DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09993-6

Objectives The study investigates how antibiotics affect biofilm formation and toxin gene expression in Clostridium difficile , which is essential for its survival and persistence. Methods The study confirmed 25 strains of C. difficile and assessed biofilm formation. The MIC of metronidazole and vancomycin was determined through agar dilution, and the impact of sub-MIC levels on biofilm formation and eradication was investigated. Additionally, Real-time PCR was used to analyze the expression levels of target genes related to antibiotic treatment. Results We found that certain genes, such as the ImmA/IrrE system, were associated with increased biofilm formation in isolates. Sub-MIC antibiotic levels influenced gene expression related to biofilm activities, particularly emphasizing the importance of toxin-antitoxin systems. The results suggest that antibiotics at sub-MIC levels may play a signaling role in promoting biofilm formation and gene expression in C. difficile . Conclusion Our study suggests that toxin and antitoxin genes may impact C. difficile biofilm formation, while antibiotics could signal biofilm strengthening and gene expression increase.