Clostridium difficile causes serious intestinal illness mediated by two exotoxins, TcdA and TcdB. In this issue, Savidge et al. report that these toxins can be modified by S-nitrosothiol, resulting in their impaired enzymatic activity in vitro and reduced disease in mice. Their findings suggest that promoting S-nitrosylation of C. difficile toxins may have therapeutic potential.
- Tor C Savidge
- Petri Urvil
- Charalabos Pothoulakis