Identification of the latex test-reactive protein of Clostridium difficile as glutamate dehydrogenase

Abstract

Computer analysis showed that the gene encoding the latex test-reactive protein of Clostridium difficile exhibited high levels of homology with glutamate dehydrogenases from various sources. Further analysis demonstrated that the recombinant protein possessed glutamate dehydrogenase activity. Our results show that the protein that reacts in commercial latex tests for C. difficile is a glutamate dehydrogenase.