T. Karjalainen et al., Molecular and genomic analysis of genes encoding surface-anchored proteinsfrom Clostridium difficile, INFEC IMMUN, 69(5), 2001, pp. 3442-3446
The gene slpA, encoding the S-layer precursor protein in the virulent Clost
ridium difficile strains C253 and 79-685, was identified. The precursor pro
tein carries a C-terminal highly conserved anchoring domain, similar to the
one found in the Cwp66 adhesin (previously characterized in strain 79-685)
, an SLH domain, and a variable N-terminal domain mediating cell adherence.
The genes encoding the S-layer precursor proteins and the Cwp66 adhesin ar
e present in a genetic locus carrying 17 open reading frames, Ii of which e
ncode a similar two-domain architecture, likely to include surface-anchored
proteins.