| dc.description.abstract | Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming pathogen. Due to, in part, the highly transmissible spore morphotype, C. difficile infections (CDI) frequently occur in cycles of recurring disease that are accompanied by progressively severe symptoms. Unfortunately, viable treatment options have not increased in proportion to morbidity, making investigations into individual strain phenotypes necessary in the pursuit of suitable therapies. The focus of this research was to characterize a recently-identified C. difficile clinical isolate (LC5624). Assessments of growth curves and sporulation, germination assays, and analyses of genome editing by previously generated CRISPR-Cas9 plasmids have been compiled to form a detailed physiological profile of C. difficile LC5624.Bridging a molecular understanding of laboratory physiology to clinical disease severity aids scientific research leveled at eliminating this human pathogen. Correlating phenotypes of actively circulating strains to levels of disease severity leverages a greater understanding of the pathogen in its community evolution, and increases the success of treatment techniques employed by medical professionals facing infection in patients. | en |
