VTN and infection: Therefore, as previously shown for cdeC mutant spores in C. difficile R20291 genetic background, which have higher affinity against components of the intestinal mucosa such as adherence to intestinal epithelial cells, fibronectin and vitronectin [17], suggests that it is conceivable that the absence of CdeC, and/or lower additional exosporium proteins, contribute to a greater persistence of C. difficile in the host during infection, indicating that CdeC negatively contributes to C. difficile pathogenesis.