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Azrad M, Abu-Rahmoun L, Hamo Z, Peretz A. Associations of motility and auto-aggregation with biofilm-formation capacity levels in Clostridioidesdifficile. Microb Pathog 2024; 186:106490. [PMID: 38061667 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/02/2024]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is responsible for one of the most common nosocomial infections worldwide. This work assessed associations between biofilm-formation capacity levels of C. difficile and cell viability, motility, flagella, motility and auto-aggregation in 118 clinical isolates. Biofilm production was assessed by the crystal violet method. Cell viability was determined by BacTiter-Glo™ Microbial Cell Viability Assay and live-imaging microscopy. Expression levels of LuxS, Cwp84, Spo0A, PilA, and FliC were measured by real-time PCR. Motility was visually assessed in agar tubes. Auto-aggregation levels were determined by OD600 measurements. Out of 118 isolates, 66 (56 %) were biofilm producers, with most being strong or moderate producers. Cell viability, motility and auto-aggregation positively correlated with biofilm-production capacity (p = 0.0001, p = 0.036 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Positive associations were found between pilA, fliC and luxS expression levels and biofilm-production capacity (p = 0.04, p = 0.01, p = 0.036, respectively). This is the first report of associations between biofilm-formation capacity and cell viability, pilA, fliC, and luxS gene expression, auto-aggregation and motility. These correlations should be further explored to expand knowledge on the regulation of C. difficile biofilm formation, and pathogenesis, which will have notable implications on treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Azrad
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Tzafon Medical Center, Poriya, Israel
| | | | - Zohar Hamo
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Tzafon Medical Center, Poriya, Israel
| | - Avi Peretz
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Tzafon Medical Center, Poriya, Israel; Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, Israel.
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Morais MLGDS, Santos MGC, Costa CL, Martins CS, Leitão RFDC, de Melo Pacífico D, Quesada-Gómez C, Castelo Branco D, Ferreira EDO, Brito GADC. Comparative biofilm-forming ability between Clostridioides difficile strains isolated in Latin America and the epidemic NAP1/027 strain. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1033698. [PMID: 36619751 PMCID: PMC9815708 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1033698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction One of the challenges in treating Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is that the bacterium forms biofilms, a critical virulence mechanism known to promote antibiotic resistance and, as a result, consequently, a higher recurrence of the disease. The goal of this study was to compare the ability of three MLST Clade 2 strains to form a biofilm in vitro: ICC-45 (ribotype SLO231/UK[CE]821), a ST41 toxinotype IXb isolated in Brazil; and two epidemic NAP1/027/ST01 strains: NAP1/027/ST01 (LIBA5756), isolated during a 2010 outbreak in Costa Rica and the reference epidemic strain NAP1/027/ST01 (R20291); and ATCC700057, a non-toxigenic strain. Methods The ability of strains to form biofilm was evaluated using crystal violet staining. In addition, samples were stained with the Film Tracer biofilm matrix (Invitrogen®) and the biofilm matrix thickness was measured using confocal microscopy. The matrix architecture was determined using Scanning electron microscop. Confocal microscopy was used to detect the presence of toxin A (tcdA) using an anti-Clostridioides difficile TcdA antibody. The expression of virulence genes (tcdA, tcdB, tcdC, cdtB, spo0A, slpA, cwp66 and cwp84) was examined, as well as the effect of antibiotics metronidazole (MTZ) and vancomycin (VAN) on biofilm growth. Results All of the strains tested formed a moderate biofilm with 1.1 <DO570nm>3.5. After 72h, biofilm biomass of the NAP1/027/ST01 epidemic strains (LIBA5756 and R20291) was significantly higher than ICC-45 and ATCC 700057 biofilms, as confirmed by electron and confocal microscopy. At 120h, the LIBA5756 biofilm biomass decreased compared to other strains. The toxigenic strains R20291 or LIBA 5756 had higher expression of genes tcdA, tcdB, tcdC, cdtA, slpA and spo0A than ICC-45, but there were no significant differences in the expression levels of cdtB, cwp66 and cwp84. In epidemic strains, VAN and MTZ inhibited biofilm formation; however, in the ICC-45 strain, MIC concentrations of VAN and MIC and 4MIC of MTZ did not inhibit biofilm formation. Conclusion The three MLST Clade 2 isolated from different rybotipes, two of which were isolated from Latin America, are competent biofilm-forming bacteria, indicating their ability to induce C. difficile infection recurrence, making treatment difficult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luana Gaudencio dos Santos Morais
- Department of Morphology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil,Laboratory of Bacteriology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Mayara Gilde Castro Santos
- Laboratório de Biologia de Anaeróbios, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cecília Leite Costa
- Department of Morphology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil,Laboratory of Bacteriology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Conceição Silva Martins
- Department of Morphology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | | | - Dvison de Melo Pacífico
- Department of Morphology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Carlos Quesada-Gómez
- Facultad de Microbiología and Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Débora Castelo Branco
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Eliane de Oliveira Ferreira
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Gerly Anne de Castro Brito
- Department of Morphology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil,*Correspondence: Gerly Anne de Castro Brito,
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Wiese M, Schuren FHJ, Smits WK, Kuijper EJ, Ouwens A, Heerikhuisen M, Vigsnaes L, van den Broek TJ, de Boer P, Montijn RC, van der Vossen JMBM. 2'-Fucosyllactose inhibits proliferation of Clostridioides difficile ATCC 43599 in the CDi-screen, an in vitro model simulating Clostridioides difficile infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:991150. [PMID: 36389156 PMCID: PMC9650113 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.991150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium that can produce the toxins TcdA and/or TcdB and is considered an opportunistic pathogen. C. difficile is mainly transmitted as endospores, which germinate to produce the pathogenic vegetative cells under suitable conditions in the gut. To efficiently screen novel therapeutic- interventions against the proliferation of C. difficile within a complex microbial community, platforms are needed that facilitate parallel experimentation. In order to allow for screening of novel interventions a medium-to-high throughput in vitro system is desirable. To this end, we have developed the 96-well CDi-screen platform that employs an adapted simulated ileal effluent medium (CDi-SIEM) and allows for culturing of pathogenic C. difficile. METHODS C. difficile strain ATCC 43599 was inoculated in the form of vegetative cells and spores into the CDi-screen in the presence and absence of a cultured fecal microbiota and incubated for 48h. To demonstrate its utility, we investigated the effect of the human milk oligosaccharide 2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL) at 4 and 8 mg/mL on C. difficile outgrowth and toxin production in the CDi-screen. The test conditions were sampled after 24 and 48 hours. C. difficile -specific primers were used to monitor C. difficile growth via qPCR and barcoded 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing facilitated the in-depth analysis of gut microbial community dynamics. RESULTS C. difficile ATCC 43599 proliferated in CDi-SIEM, both when inoculated as spores and as vegetative cells. The strain reached cell numbers expressed as C. difficile genome equivalents of up to 10 8 cells per mL after 24h of incubation. 2'-FL significantly inhibited the outgrowth of the ATTC 43599 strain within a complex human gut microbial community in the CDi-screen. In addition, a dose-dependent modulation of the gut microbial community composition by 2'-FL supplementation was detected, with a significant increase in the relative abundance of the genus Blautia in the presence of 2'-FL. CONCLUSION The CDi-screen is suitable for studying C. difficile proliferation in a complex gut ecosystem and for screening for anti-pathogenic interventions that target C. difficile directly and/or indirectly through interactions with the gut microbiota. Different doses of compounds such as in this study the dose of the human milk oligosaccharide 2'-FL can be screened for efficacy in the inhibition of C. difficile proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Wiese
- Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Frank H. J. Schuren
- Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Wiep Klaas Smits
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Ed J. Kuijper
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Anita Ouwens
- Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Margreet Heerikhuisen
- Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Louise Vigsnaes
- Glycom A/S—DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., Kogle Allé 4, Hørsholm, Denmark
- Department of Technology, Faculty of Health, University College Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tim J. van den Broek
- Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Paulo de Boer
- Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Roy C. Montijn
- Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Jos M. B. M. van der Vossen
- Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, Netherlands
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Meza-Torres J, Auria E, Dupuy B, Tremblay YDN. Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: Clostridioides difficile Biofilm as a Reservoir for Recurrent Infections. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1922. [PMID: 34576818 PMCID: PMC8470499 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The microbiota inhabiting the intestinal tract provide several critical functions to its host. Microorganisms found at the mucosal layer form organized three-dimensional structures which are considered to be biofilms. Their development and functions are influenced by host factors, host-microbe interactions, and microbe-microbe interactions. These structures can dictate the health of their host by strengthening the natural defenses of the gut epithelium or cause disease by exacerbating underlying conditions. Biofilm communities can also block the establishment of pathogens and prevent infectious diseases. Although these biofilms are important for colonization resistance, new data provide evidence that gut biofilms can act as a reservoir for pathogens such as Clostridioides difficile. In this review, we will look at the biofilms of the intestinal tract, their contribution to health and disease, and the factors influencing their formation. We will then focus on the factors contributing to biofilm formation in C. difficile, how these biofilms are formed, and their properties. In the last section, we will look at how the gut microbiota and the gut biofilm influence C. difficile biofilm formation, persistence, and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jazmin Meza-Torres
- Laboratoire Pathogenèse des Bactéries Anaérobies, Institut Pasteur, UMR-CNRS 2001, Université de Paris, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris, France; (J.M.-T.); (E.A.)
| | - Emile Auria
- Laboratoire Pathogenèse des Bactéries Anaérobies, Institut Pasteur, UMR-CNRS 2001, Université de Paris, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris, France; (J.M.-T.); (E.A.)
| | - Bruno Dupuy
- Laboratoire Pathogenèse des Bactéries Anaérobies, Institut Pasteur, UMR-CNRS 2001, Université de Paris, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris, France; (J.M.-T.); (E.A.)
| | - Yannick D. N. Tremblay
- Laboratoire Pathogenèse des Bactéries Anaérobies, Institut Pasteur, UMR-CNRS 2001, Université de Paris, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris, France; (J.M.-T.); (E.A.)
- Health Sciences Building, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada
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Rahmoun LA, Azrad M, Peretz A. Antibiotic Resistance and Biofilm Production Capacity in Clostridioides difficile. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:683464. [PMID: 34422678 PMCID: PMC8371447 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.683464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is one of the primary pathogens responsible for infectious diarrhea. Antibiotic treatment failure, occurring in about 30% of patients, and elevated rates of antibiotic resistance pose a major challenge for therapy. Reinfection often occurs by isolates that produce biofilm, a protective barrier impermeable to antibiotics. We explored the association between antibiotic resistance (in planktonic form) and biofilm-production in 123 C. difficile clinical isolates. Results Overall, 66 (53.6%) out of 123 isolates produced a biofilm, with most of them being either a strong (44%) or moderate (34.8%) biofilm producers. When compared to susceptible isolates, a statistically higher percentage of isolates with reduced susceptibility to metronidazole or vancomycin were biofilm producers (p < 0.0001, for both antibiotics). Biofilm production intensity was higher among tolerant isolates; 53.1% of the metronidazole-susceptible isolates were not able to produce biofilms, and only 12.5% were strong biofilm-producers. In contrast, 63% of the isolates with reduced susceptibility had a strong biofilm-production capability, while 22.2% were non-producers. Among the vancomycin-susceptible isolates, 51% were unable to produce biofilms, while all the isolates with reduced vancomycin susceptibility were biofilm-producers. Additionally, strong biofilm production capacity was more common among the isolates with reduced vancomycin susceptibility, compared to susceptible isolates (72.7% vs. 18.8%, respectively). The distribution of biofilm capacity groups was statistically different between different Sequence-types (ST) strains (p =0.001). For example, while most of ST2 (66.7%), ST13 (60%), ST42 (80%) isolates were non-producers, most (75%) ST6 isolates were moderate producers and most of ST104 (57.1%) were strong producers. Conclusions Our results suggest an association between reduced antibiotic susceptibility and biofilm production capacity. This finding reinforces the importance of antibiotic susceptibility testing, mainly in recurrence infections that may be induced by a strain that is both antibiotic tolerant and biofilm producer. Better adjustment of treatment in such cases may reduce recurrences rates and complications. The link of biofilm production and ST should be further validated; if ST can indicate on isolate virulence, then in the future, when strain typing methods will be more available to laboratories, ST determination may aid in indecision between supportive vs. aggressive treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maya Azrad
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poriya, Israel
| | - Avi Peretz
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, Israel.,Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poriya, Israel
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6
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Wang Y, Lim YY, He Z, Wong WT, Lai WF. Dietary phytochemicals that influence gut microbiota: Roles and actions as anti-Alzheimer agents. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2021; 62:5140-5166. [PMID: 33559482 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2021.1882381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The last decide has witnessed a growing research interest in the role of dietary phytochemicals in influencing the gut microbiota. On the other hand, recent evidence reveals that dietary phytochemicals exhibit properties of preventing and tackling symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, which is a neurodegenerative disease that has also been linked with the status of the gut microbiota over the last decade. Till now, little serious discussions, however, have been made to link recent understanding of Alzheimer's disease, dietary phytochemicals and the gut microbiota together and to review the roles played by phytochemicals in gut dysbiosis induced pathologies of Alzheimer's disease. Deciphering these connections can provide insights into the development and future use of dietary phytochemicals as anti-Alzheimer drug candidates. This review aims at presenting latest evidence in the modulating role of phytochemicals in the gut microbiota and its relevance to Alzheimer's disease and summarizing the mechanisms behind the modulative activities. Limitations of current research in this field and potential directions will also be discussed for future research on dietary phytochemicals as anti-Alzheimer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wang
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,School of Dentistry, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yau-Yan Lim
- School of Science, Monash University, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Zhendan He
- College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wing-Tak Wong
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Wing-Fu Lai
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.,School of Life and Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, China
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Dawson LF, Peltier J, Hall CL, Harrison MA, Derakhshan M, Shaw HA, Fairweather NF, Wren BW. Extracellular DNA, cell surface proteins and c-di-GMP promote biofilm formation in Clostridioides difficile. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3244. [PMID: 33547340 PMCID: PMC7865049 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78437-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is the leading cause of nosocomial antibiotic-associated diarrhoea worldwide, yet there is little insight into intestinal tract colonisation and relapse. In many bacterial species, the secondary messenger cyclic-di-GMP mediates switching between planktonic phase, sessile growth and biofilm formation. We demonstrate that c-di-GMP promotes early biofilm formation in C. difficile and that four cell surface proteins contribute to biofilm formation, including two c-di-GMP regulated; CD2831 and CD3246, and two c-di-GMP-independent; CD3392 and CD0183. We demonstrate that C. difficile biofilms are composed of extracellular DNA (eDNA), cell surface and intracellular proteins, which form a protective matrix around C. difficile vegetative cells and spores, as shown by a protective effect against the antibiotic vancomycin. We demonstrate a positive correlation between biofilm biomass, sporulation frequency and eDNA abundance in all five C. difficile lineages. Strains 630 (RT012), CD305 (RT023) and M120 (RT078) contain significantly more eDNA in their biofilm matrix than strains R20291 (RT027) and M68 (RT017). DNase has a profound effect on biofilm integrity, resulting in complete disassembly of the biofilm matrix, inhibition of biofilm formation and reduced spore germination. The addition of exogenous DNase could be exploited in treatment of C. difficile infection and relapse, to improve antibiotic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa F Dawson
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Johann Peltier
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Catherine L Hall
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Mark A Harrison
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Maria Derakhshan
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Helen A Shaw
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar, UK
| | - Neil F Fairweather
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Brendan W Wren
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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8
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Castelo-Branco DDSCM, Amando BR, Ocadaque CJ, Aguiar LD, Paiva DDDQ, Diógenes EM, Guedes GMDM, Costa CL, Santos-Filho ASP, Andrade ARCD, Cordeiro RDA, Rocha MFG, Sidrim JJC. Mini-review: from in vitro to ex vivo studies: an overview of alternative methods for the study of medical biofilms. BIOFOULING 2020; 36:1129-1148. [PMID: 33349038 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2020.1859499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microbial biofilms are a natural adaptation of microorganisms, typically composed of multiple microbial species, exhibiting complex community organization and cooperation. Biofilm dynamics and their complex architecture are challenging for basic analyses, including the number of viable cells, biomass accumulation, biofilm morphology, among others. The methods used to study biofilms range from in vitro techniques to complex in vivo models. However, animal welfare has become a major concern, not only in society, but also in the academic and scientific field. Thus, the pursuit for alternatives to in vivo biofilm analyses presenting characteristics that mimic in vivo conditions has become essential. In this context, the present review proposes to provide an overview of strategies to study biofilms of medical interest, with emphasis on alternatives that approximate experimental conditions to host-associated environments, such as the use of medical devices as substrata for biofilm formation, microcosm and ex vivo models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Débora de Souza Collares Maia Castelo-Branco
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Group of Applied Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Bruno Rocha Amando
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Group of Applied Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Crister José Ocadaque
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Group of Applied Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Lara de Aguiar
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, College of Veterinary, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Débora Damásio de Queiroz Paiva
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Group of Applied Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Expedito Maia Diógenes
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Group of Applied Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Glaucia Morgana de Melo Guedes
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Group of Applied Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Cecília Leite Costa
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Group of Applied Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Anísio Silvestre Pinheiro Santos-Filho
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Group of Applied Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Ana Raquel Colares de Andrade
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Rossana de Aguiar Cordeiro
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Marcos Fábio Gadelha Rocha
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, College of Veterinary, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - José Júlio Costa Sidrim
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
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Probiotic Supplementation in a Clostridium difficile-Infected Gastrointestinal Model Is Associated with Restoring Metabolic Function of Microbiota. Microorganisms 2019; 8:microorganisms8010060. [PMID: 31905795 PMCID: PMC7023328 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8010060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridium (C.) difficile-infection (CDI), a nosocomial gastrointestinal disorder, is of growing concern due to its rapid rise in recent years. Antibiotic therapy of CDI is associated with disrupted metabolic function and altered gut microbiota. The use of probiotics as an adjunct is being studied extensively due to their potential to modulate metabolic functions and the gut microbiota. In the present study, we assessed the ability of several single strain probiotics and a probiotic mixture to change the metabolic functions of normal and C. difficile-infected fecal samples. The production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and ammonia was measured, and changes in microbial composition were assessed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The C. difficile-infection in fecal samples resulted in a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in SCFA and H2S production, with a lower microbial alpha diversity. All probiotic treatments were associated with significantly increased (p < 0.05) levels of SCFAs and restored H2S levels. Probiotics showed no effect on microbial composition of either normal or C. difficile-infected fecal samples. These findings indicate that probiotics may be useful to improve the metabolic dysregulation associated with C. difficile infection.
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10
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Increased sporulation underpins adaptation of Clostridium difficile strain 630 to a biologically-relevant faecal environment, with implications for pathogenicity. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16691. [PMID: 30420658 PMCID: PMC6232153 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35050-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile virulence is driven primarily by the processes of toxinogenesis and sporulation, however many in vitro experimental systems for studying C. difficile physiology have arguably limited relevance to the human colonic environment. We therefore created a more physiologically–relevant model of the colonic milieu to study gut pathogen biology, incorporating human faecal water (FW) into growth media and assessing the physiological effects of this on C. difficile strain 630. We identified a novel set of C. difficile–derived metabolites in culture supernatants, including hexanoyl– and pentanoyl–amino acid derivatives by LC-MSn. Growth of C. difficile strain 630 in FW media resulted in increased cell length without altering growth rate and RNA sequencing identified 889 transcripts as differentially expressed (p < 0.001). Significantly, up to 300–fold increases in the expression of sporulation–associated genes were observed in FW media–grown cells, along with reductions in motility and toxin genes’ expression. Moreover, the expression of classical stress–response genes did not change, showing that C. difficile is well–adapted to this faecal milieu. Using our novel approach we have shown that interaction with FW causes fundamental changes in C. difficile biology that will lead to increased disease transmissibility.
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