Against <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> Infection: An Update on Vaccine Development

<i>Clostridioides difficile</i> (<i>C. difficile</i>) is a major pathogen responsible for antibiotic-associated diarrhea, frequently observed in hospital settings. Due to the widespread use of antibiotics, the incidence and severity of <i>C. difficile</i> infectio...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jingyao Wang, Qianquan Ma, Songhai Tian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Toxins
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/5/222
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Summary:<i>Clostridioides difficile</i> (<i>C. difficile</i>) is a major pathogen responsible for antibiotic-associated diarrhea, frequently observed in hospital settings. Due to the widespread use of antibiotics, the incidence and severity of <i>C. difficile</i> infection (CDI) are rising across the world. CDI is primarily driven by two homologous protein exotoxins, toxin A (TcdA) and toxin B (TcdB). Other putative virulence factors include binary toxin CDT, surface layer proteins, phosphorylated polysaccharides, and spore coat proteins. These <i>C. difficile</i> virulence factors are potential targets for vaccine development. Although several <i>C. difficile</i> vaccines have entered clinical trials, there is currently no approved vaccine on the market. This review outlines the intoxication mechanism during CDI, emphasizing the potential antigens that can be used for vaccine development. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the current status of research and development of <i>C. difficile</i> vaccines.
ISSN:2072-6651