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Cytotoxic Effects of the Clostridium difficile Toxins

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Clostridium difficile

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology ((CT MICROBIOLOGY,volume 250))

Abstract

Clostridium difficile-induced antibiotic-associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis are typical toxin diseases elicited by actions of the two major toxins A and B (TcdA, TcdB) in the intestine. TcdA and TcdB are cytotoxic to intestinal and other cells because they glucosylate small GTP-binding proteins. These GTPases are crucial proteins controlling the actin cytoskeleton (ACSK) and the molecular signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation and cell death. Besides the two “classic” toxins produced by most strains of C. difficile, certain strains produce variant toxins whose pathophysiological significance is still unclear (Kato et al. 1998; Rlpnik et al. 1998). The C. difficile toxins are prototypes of the family of so-called Large Clostridial cytoToxins (LCTs). The LCTs glucosylate a variety of small GTPases thereby inducing a collapse of the ACSK (Eichel-Streiber et al. 1996).

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  1. Microbiology and Tumorbiology Center, Karolinska Institutet, Box 280, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden

    M. Thelestam & E. Chaves-Olarte

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  1. M. Thelestam
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  2. E. Chaves-Olarte
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  1. Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 5, 79104, Freiburg i. Br., Germany

    Klaus Aktories

  2. Virginia Tech, Fralin Biotechnology Center, West Campus Drive, MC 0346, 24061, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    Tracy D. Wilkins (Director of Biotechnology) (Director of Biotechnology)

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Thelestam, M., Chaves-Olarte, E. (2000). Cytotoxic Effects of the Clostridium difficile Toxins. In: Aktories, K., Wilkins, T.D. (eds) Clostridium difficile. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol 250. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-06272-2_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-06272-2_4

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