Genome sequencing of multidrug resistant novel Clostridium sp. BL8 reveals its potential for pathogenicity

Abstract

BackgroundThe human gut microbiome is important for maintaining the health status of the host. Clostridia are key members of the human gut microbiome, carrying out several important functions in the gut environment. Hence understanding the role of different Clostridium species isolated from human gut is essential. The present study was aimed at investigating the role of novel Clostridium sp. isolate BL8 in human gut using genome sequencing as a tool.FindingsThe genome analysis of Clostridium sp. BL8 showed the presence of several adaptive features like bile resistance, presence of sensory and regulatory systems, presence of oxidative stress managing systems and presence of membrane transport systems. The genome of Clostridium sp. BL8 consists of a wide variety of virulence factors like phospholipase C (alpha toxin), hemolysin, aureolysin and exfoliative toxin A, as well as adhesion factors, proteases, Type IV secretion system and antibiotic resistance genes. In vitro antibiotic sensitivity testing showed that Clostridium sp. BL8 was resistant to 11 different tested antibiotics belonging to 6 different classes. The cell cytotoxicity assay confirmed the cytotoxic effect of Clostridium sp. BL8 cells, which killed 40% of the Vero cells after 4 hrs of incubation.ConclusionsClostridium sp. BL8 has adapted for survival in human gut environment, with presence of different adaptive features. The presence of several virulence factors and cell cytotoxic activity indicate that Clostridium sp. BL8 has a potential to cause infections in humans, however further in vivo studies are necessary to ascertain this fact.

Antibiotic resistance mechanisms of Myroides sp.

“…Since its invention by Rothberg et al (2011), Ion Torrent sequencing technology has been successfully applied to complete genomic sequencing, such as in Clostridium sp. BL8 (with Ion Torrent PGM™) (Marathe et al, 2014), and clear characterization of drug-resistant genes, such as in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Daum et al, 2014). Results can be obtained within five days, comparable to the turnaround time required by current drug sensitivity testing (DST) (Daum et al, 2014).…”

Human gut microbiome research in India: A retrospect and future opportunities

“…Few studies reported from India on genome sequencing and annotation of gut bacterial isolates helped us understand their pathogenic characters such as virulence patterns, multi-drug resistance etc. A study carried out by Marathe et al 2014 on genomic characterization of Clostridium sp. isolated from human gut, showed the presence of various genes responsible for Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR).…”

Clostridium punense sp. nov., an obligate anaerobe isolated from healthy human faeces

“…Strain BLPYG-8 T exhibited thiosulfate- and sulfur-reducing activity but did not exhibit sulfite-, sulfate- or nitrate-reducing activity, and was catalase- and oxidase-negative. The whole-genome sequence analysis of strain BLPYG-8 T also revealed the absence of the genes responsible for all the said activities (Marathe et al , 2014). Strain BLPYG-8 T tolerated bile up to 0.3 % (w/v).…”

“…These antibiotics included vancomycin, colistin, penicillin G, ampicillin, tetracycline, gentamicin, streptomycin, kanamycin, cotrimoxazole, amikacin and chloramphenicol. The genome sequencing also revealed the presence of antibiotic resistance genes against the tested antibiotics as well as other non-tested antibiotics (Marathe et al , 2014).…”

“…The comparison of whole-genome sequences of strain BLPYG-8 T (GenBank accession no. AUPA00000000) and ‘ C. tunisiense ’ (AMQH00000000) showed a low sequence similarity [distance is 0.141 (>0.9 is similar species)] between the genomes (Auch et al , 2010; Marathe et al , 2014). The genome sequences of ‘ C. tunisiense ’ (AMQH00000000) and strain BLPYG-8 T (AUPA00000000) were also used to conduct in silico DNA–DNA hybridization using DSMZ software (Auch et al , 2010; Meier-Kolthoff et al , 2013).…”