Clostridioides difficile S-Layer Protein A (SlpA) Serves as a General Phage Receptor
Alexia L.M. Royer, Andrew A. Umansky, Marie-Maude Allen, Julian R. Garneau, Maicol Ospina-Bedoya, Joseph A. Kirk, Gregory Govoni, Robert P. Fagan, Olga Soutourina, Louis‐Charles Fortier
Abstract
have a narrow host range and target members from only one or a few PCR ribotypes. Without a clear comprehension of the factors that define host specificity, and in particular the host receptor recognized by phages, it is hard to develop therapeutic cocktails in a rational manner. In our study, we provide clear and unambiguous experimental evidence that SlpA is a common receptor used by many siphophages and myophages. Although work is still needed to define how a particular phage receptor-binding protein binds to a specific SLCT, the identification of SlpA as a common receptor is a major keystone that will facilitate the rational design of therapeutic phage cocktails against clinically important strains.