Peptidoglycan degradation machinery in Clostridium difficile forespore engulfment

What is it about?

Clostridium difficile infections are a major healthcare concern and spread via spores, a highly resistant dormant cell form. A key part of the process to form these cells involves one bigger cell engulfing a smaller one, the future spore. A machinery of proteins - DMP - and a 'zipper' complex - Q:AH - has been suggested to drive this engulfment. We show evidence of a novel organisation of this machinery where D/P and Q:AH act together to keep the membrane of the mother cell and the forespore tightly together during engulfment. We also demonstrate that sequential activity of P and D is essential for the process.

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