Surface-displayed glycopolymers of Clostridioides difficile

Clostridioides difficile is a leading cause of the healthcare-associated disease C. difficile infection (CDI), which has an annual US burden of over 200 000 cases. CDI mitigation strategies have been complicated by the emergence, and widespread distribution, of phylogenetically diverse lineages, as well as pathogen recalcitrance to genetic manipulation. In this review, we highlight past and current efforts to elucidate C. difficile surface glycopolymer biology since these molecules are essential for colonization, disease, and immunity elicitation, and may therefore have potential as CDI anti-infective targets.

Automated summary

This review highlights the progress in understanding the biology of C. difficile surface glycopolymers, which play essential roles in colonization, disease, and immunity, and may serve as potential targets for anti-infective strategies against CDI.