Highly specific antibodies derived from llamas may
provide a new method for controlling deadly infections from the
opportunistic bacterial pathogen Clostridium difficile, according to a
new report.
The report describes how llama antibodies recognize the Clostridium difficile’s two central toxin proteins -- toxin A (TcdA) and toxin B (TcdB). Clostridium difficile (C diff) is a species of Gram-positive spore-forming bacteria that is best known for causing antibiotic-associated diarrhea. C. difficile
infection is a growing problem in healthcare facilities. Outbreaks
occur when humans accidentally ingest spores in a medical facility.
To show that the llama antibodies had the best structure to combat C
diff, the scientists studied the three-dimensional structures of
antibody-toxin complexes using X-ray crystallography.
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