Update on Commonly Used Molecular Typing Methods for Clostridioides difficile

Abstract

This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the significant Clostridioides difficile molecular typing techniques currently employed in research and medical communities. The main objectives of this review are to describe the key molecular typing methods utilized in C. difficile studies and to highlight the epidemiological characteristics of the most prevalent strains on a global scale. Geographically distinct regions exhibit distinct strain types of C. difficile, with notable concordance observed among various typing methodologies. The advantages that next-generation sequencing (NGS) offers has changed epidemiology research, enabling high-resolution genomic analyses of this pathogen. NGS platforms offer an unprecedented opportunity to explore the genetic intricacies and evolutionary trajectories of C. difficile strains. It is relevant to acknowledge that novel routes of transmission are continually being unveiled and warrant further investigation, particularly in the context of zoonotic implications and environmental contamination.

Keywords: C. difficile epidemiology; MLST; MLVA; PFGE; molecular typing.

Figure 1

Overview of the protocols of molecular typing techniques in C. difficile. Each color represents a different technique: blue for enzymatic digestion, orange for PCR amplification, green for DNA sequencing, and yellow for electrophoresis and pattern analysis.