Access through your institution Buy or subscribe Toxigenic _Clostridium difficile_ strains produce toxin A and toxin B, which have been implicated in pathogenesis; however, the molecular

mechanisms regulating toxin production are elusive. Darkoh _et al_. now show that the Agr quorum sensing system has a role in toxin expression through the generation of a novel thiolactone

signalling peptide. Purified fractions containing this peptide from _C. difficile_ cultures and stool samples of infected patients stimulated toxin synthesis in both hypervirulent and

non-hypervirulent _C. difficile_ strains. In addition to the newly identified signalling peptide, components of the quorum sensing and response pathways were shown to be involved in toxin

this article * Purchase on SpringerLink * Instant access to full article PDF Buy now Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout ADDITIONAL ACCESS OPTIONS: *

Log in * Learn about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support REFERENCES * Darkoh, C. et al. Toxin synthesis by _Clostridium difficile_ is regulated through

quorum signaling. _mBio_ 6, e02569–14 (2015) Article  Google Scholar  Download references Authors * Andrea Du Toit View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed 

Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Du Toit, A. A signal for toxin production. _Nat Rev Microbiol_ 13, 187 (2015).

https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro3465 Download citation * Published: 16 March 2015 * Issue Date: April 2015 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro3465 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the

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