Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is the most common hospital-acquired infection in the US. Some strains produce toxins and cause severe gastroenteritis, especially in people that are taking antibiotics. We investigate the genetic and phenotypic diversity of Clostridium difficile strains from the environment, from animals, and from healthcare centers.

We develop low cost tools for characterizing isolates (see Tools page) and databases to facilitate the work of others in the scientific community. We also use mouse models of CDI to understand how this deadly disease is spread and what factors are important for preventing this disease. Feel free to contact Dr. Walk if you have a need for data and/or isolates for your research project!