Comparative genome and phenotypic analysis of Clostridium difficile 027 strains provides insight into the evolution of a hypervirulent bacterium

A comparison of a series of 027 isolates showed that some of these genes appeared to have been gained by 027 strains over the past two decades. This study provides genetic markers for the identification of 027 strains and offers a unique opportunity to explain the recent emergence of a hypervirulent bacterium.