1
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Fishbein SRS, DeVeaux AL, Khanna S, Ferreiro AL, Liao J, Agee W, Ning J, Mahmud B, Wallace MJ, Hink T, Reske KA, Guruge J, Leekha S, Dubberke ER, Dantas G. Commensal-pathogen dynamics structure disease outcomes during Clostridioides difficile colonization. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.11.603094. [PMID: 39026847 PMCID: PMC11257545 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.11.603094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal colonization by Clostridioides difficile is common in healthcare settings and ranges in clinical presentation from asymptomatic carriage to lethal C. difficile infection (CDI). We used a systems biology approach to investigate why patients colonized with C. difficile have a range of outcomes. Microbiota-humanization of germ-free mice with fecal samples from toxigenic C. difficile carriers revealed a spectrum of virulence among clade 1 lineages and identified commensal Blautia associated with markers of non-pathogenic colonization. Using gnotobiotic mice engrafted with defined human microbiota, we observed strain-specific CDI severity across clade 1 strains. Yet, mice engrafted with a higher diversity community were protected from severe disease across all strains without suppression of C. difficile colonization. These results indicate that when colonization resistance has been breached without overt infection, commensals can attenuate a diversity of virulent strains without inhibiting pathogen colonization, providing insight into determinants of stable C. difficile carriage.
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2
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Woelfel S, Silva MS, Stecher B. Intestinal colonization resistance in the context of environmental, host, and microbial determinants. Cell Host Microbe 2024; 32:820-836. [PMID: 38870899 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.05.002] [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: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Microbial communities that colonize the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract defend against pathogens through a mechanism known as colonization resistance (CR). Advances in technologies such as next-generation sequencing, gnotobiotic mouse models, and bacterial cultivation have enhanced our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and the intricate microbial interactions involved in CR. Rather than being attributed to specific microbial clades, CR is now understood to arise from a dynamic interplay between microbes and the host and is shaped by metabolic, immune, and environmental factors. This evolving perspective underscores the significance of contextual factors, encompassing microbiome composition and host conditions, in determining CR. This review highlights recent research that has shifted its focus toward elucidating how these factors interact to either promote or impede enteric infections. It further discusses future research directions to unravel the complex relationship between host, microbiota, and environmental determinants in safeguarding against GI infections to promote human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Woelfel
- Max von Pettenkofer-Institute for Hygiene and Clinical Microbiology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Marta Salvado Silva
- Max von Pettenkofer-Institute for Hygiene and Clinical Microbiology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Bärbel Stecher
- Max von Pettenkofer-Institute for Hygiene and Clinical Microbiology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
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3
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Gurung B, Stricklin M, Wang S. Gut Microbiota-Gut Metabolites and Clostridioides difficile Infection: Approaching Sustainable Solutions for Therapy. Metabolites 2024; 14:74. [PMID: 38276309 PMCID: PMC10819375 DOI: 10.3390/metabo14010074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection (CDI) is the most common hospital-acquired infection. With the combination of a high rate of antibiotic resistance and recurrence, it has proven to be a debilitating public health threat. Current treatments for CDI include antibiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation, which contribute to recurrent CDIs and potential risks. Therefore, there is an ongoing need to develop new preventative treatment strategies for CDI. Notably, gut microbiota dysbiosis is the primary risk factor for CDI and provides a promising target for developing novel CDI therapy approaches. Along with gut microbiota dysbiosis, a reduction in important gut metabolites like secondary bile acids and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were also seen in patients suffering from CDI. In this review study, we investigated the roles and mechanisms of gut microbiota and gut microbiota-derived gut metabolites, especially secondary bile acids and SCFAs in CDI pathogenesis. Moreover, specific signatures of gut microbiota and gut metabolites, as well as different factors that can modulate the gut microbiota, were also discussed, indicating that gut microbiota modulators like probiotics and prebiotics can be a potential therapeutic strategy for CDI as they can help restore gut microbiota and produce gut metabolites necessary for a healthy gut. The understanding of the associations between gut microbiota-gut metabolites and CDI will allow for developing precise and sustainable approaches, distinct from antibiotics and fecal transplant, for mitigating CDI and other gut microbiota dysbiosis-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bijay Gurung
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA; (B.G.); (M.S.)
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Interdisciplinary Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - Maranda Stricklin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA; (B.G.); (M.S.)
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - Shaohua Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA; (B.G.); (M.S.)
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
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4
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Fishbein SRS, Mahmud B, Dantas G. Antibiotic perturbations to the gut microbiome. Nat Rev Microbiol 2023; 21:772-788. [PMID: 37491458 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00933-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic-mediated perturbation of the gut microbiome is associated with numerous infectious and autoimmune diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Yet, as the gut microbiome is a complex ecological network of microorganisms, the effects of antibiotics can be highly variable. With the advent of multi-omic approaches for systems-level profiling of microbial communities, we are beginning to identify microbiome-intrinsic and microbiome-extrinsic factors that affect microbiome dynamics during antibiotic exposure and subsequent recovery. In this Review, we discuss factors that influence restructuring of the gut microbiome on antibiotic exposure. We present an overview of the currently complex picture of treatment-induced changes to the microbial community and highlight essential considerations for future investigations of antibiotic-specific outcomes. Finally, we provide a synopsis of available strategies to minimize antibiotic-induced damage or to restore the pretreatment architectures of the gut microbial community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Skye R S Fishbein
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Bejan Mahmud
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Gautam Dantas
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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5
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Baldassare MA, Bhattacharjee D, Coles JD, Nelson S, McCollum CA, Seekatz AM. Butyrate enhances Clostridioides difficile sporulation in vitro. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0013823. [PMID: 37655912 PMCID: PMC10521354 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00138-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are products of bacterial fermentation that help maintain important gut functions such as maintenance of the intestinal barrier, cell signaling, and immune homeostasis. The main SCFAs acetate, propionate, and butyrate have demonstrated beneficial effects for the host, including its importance in alleviating infections caused by pathogens such as Clostridioides difficile. Despite the potential role of SCFAs in mitigating C. difficile infection, their direct effect on C. difficile remains unclear. Through a set of in vitro experiments, we investigated how SCFAs influence C. difficile growth, sporulation, and toxin production. Similar to previous studies, we observed that butyrate decreased growth of C. difficile strain 630 in a dose-dependent manner. The presence of butyrate also increased C. difficile sporulation, with minimal increases in toxin production. RNA-Seq analysis validated our experimental results, demonstrating increased expression of sporulation-related genes in conjunction with changes in metabolic and regulatory genes, such as a putative carbon starvation protein, CstA. Collectively, these data suggest that butyrate may induce alternative C. difficile survival pathways, modifying its growth ability and virulence to persist in the gut environment. IMPORTANCE Several studies suggest that butyrate may modulate gut infections, such as reducing inflammation caused by the healthcare-associated Clostridioides difficile. While studies in both animal models and human studies correlate high levels of butyrate with reduced C. difficile burden, the direct impact of butyrate on C. difficile remains unclear. Our study demonstrates that butyrate directly influences C. difficile by increasing its sporulation and modifying its metabolism, potentially using butyrate as a biomarker to shift survival strategies in a changing gut environment. These data point to additional therapeutic approaches to combat C. difficile in a butyrate-directed manner.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Disha Bhattacharjee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Julian D. Coles
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Sydney Nelson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - C. Alexis McCollum
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Anna M. Seekatz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
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6
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Saenz C, Fang Q, Gnanasekaran T, Trammell SAJ, Buijink JA, Pisano P, Wierer M, Moens F, Lengger B, Brejnrod A, Arumugam M. Clostridium scindens secretome suppresses virulence gene expression of Clostridioides difficile in a bile acid-independent manner. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0393322. [PMID: 37750706 PMCID: PMC10581174 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03933-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a major health concern and one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired diarrhea in many countries. C. difficile infection is challenging to treat as C. difficile is resistant to multiple antibiotics. Alternative solutions are needed as conventional treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics often leads to recurrent CDI. Recent studies have shown that specific microbiota-based therapeutics such as bile acids (BAs) are promising approaches to treat CDI. Clostridium scindens encodes the bile acid-induced (bai) operon that carries out 7-alpha-dehydroxylation of liver-derived primary BAs to secondary BAs. This biotransformation is thought to increase the antibacterial effects of BAs on C. difficile. Here, we used an automated multistage fermentor to study the antibacterial actions of C. scindens and BAs on C. difficile in the presence/absence of a gut microbial community derived from healthy human donor fecal microbiota. We observed that C. scindens inhibited C. difficile growth when the medium was supplemented with primary BAs. Transcriptomic analysis indicated upregulation of C. scindens bai operon and suppressed expression of C. difficile exotoxins that mediate CDI. We also observed BA-independent antibacterial activity of the secretome from C. scindens cultured overnight in a medium without supplementary primary BAs, which suppressed growth and exotoxin expression in C. difficile mono-culture. Further investigation of the molecular basis of our observation could lead to a more specific treatment for CDI than current approaches. IMPORTANCE There is an urgent need for new approaches to replace the available treatment options against Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Our novel work reports a bile acid-independent reduction of C. difficile growth and virulence gene expression by the secretome of Clostridium scindens. This potential treatment combined with other antimicrobial strategies could facilitate the development of alternative therapies in anticipation of CDI and in turn reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Saenz
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Qing Fang
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thiyagarajan Gnanasekaran
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Jesse Arnold Buijink
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Paola Pisano
- Proteomics Research Infrastructure, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Wierer
- Proteomics Research Infrastructure, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Bettina Lengger
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Asker Brejnrod
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Manimozhiyan Arumugam
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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7
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Ridlon JM, Daniel SL, Gaskins HR. The Hylemon-Björkhem pathway of bile acid 7-dehydroxylation: history, biochemistry, and microbiology. J Lipid Res 2023; 64:100392. [PMID: 37211250 PMCID: PMC10382948 DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2023.100392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Bile acids are detergents derived from cholesterol that function to solubilize dietary lipids, remove cholesterol from the body, and act as nutrient signaling molecules in numerous tissues with functions in the liver and gut being the best understood. Studies in the early 20th century established the structures of bile acids, and by mid-century, the application of gnotobiology to bile acids allowed differentiation of host-derived "primary" bile acids from "secondary" bile acids generated by host-associated microbiota. In 1960, radiolabeling studies in rodent models led to determination of the stereochemistry of the bile acid 7-dehydration reaction. A two-step mechanism was proposed, which we have termed the Samuelsson-Bergström model, to explain the formation of deoxycholic acid. Subsequent studies with humans, rodents, and cell extracts of Clostridium scindens VPI 12708 led to the realization that bile acid 7-dehydroxylation is a result of a multi-step, bifurcating pathway that we have named the Hylemon-Björkhem pathway. Due to the importance of hydrophobic secondary bile acids and the increasing measurement of microbial bai genes encoding the enzymes that produce them in stool metagenome studies, it is important to understand their origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Ridlon
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Center for Advanced Study, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Steven L Daniel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL, USA
| | - H Rex Gaskins
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
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8
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Pal R, Athamneh AI, Deshpande R, Ramirez JAR, Adu KT, Muthuirulan P, Pawar S, Biazzo M, Apidianakis Y, Sundekilde UK, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Martens MG, Tegos GP, Seleem MN. Probiotics: insights and new opportunities for Clostridioides difficile intervention. Crit Rev Microbiol 2023; 49:414-434. [PMID: 35574602 PMCID: PMC9743071 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2022.2072705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a life-threatening disease caused by the Gram-positive, opportunistic intestinal pathogen C. difficile. Despite the availability of antimicrobial drugs to treat CDI, such as vancomycin, metronidazole, and fidaxomicin, recurrence of infection remains a significant clinical challenge. The use of live commensal microorganisms, or probiotics, is one of the most investigated non-antibiotic therapeutic options to balance gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota and subsequently tackle dysbiosis. In this review, we will discuss major commensal probiotic strains that have the potential to prevent and/or treat CDI and its recurrence, reassess the efficacy of probiotics supplementation as a CDI intervention, delve into lessons learned from probiotic modulation of the immune system, explore avenues like genome-scale metabolic network reconstructions, genome sequencing, and multi-omics to identify novel strains and understand their functionality, and discuss the current regulatory framework, challenges, and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rusha Pal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Ahmad I.M. Athamneh
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | | | - Jose A. R Ramirez
- ProbioWorld Consulting Group, James Cook University, 4811, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kayode T. Adu
- ProbioWorld Consulting Group, James Cook University, 4811, Queensland, Australia
- Cann Group, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, La Trobe University, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | | | - Shrikant Pawar
- The Anlyan Center Yale Center for Genomic Analysis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven CT USA
| | - Manuele Biazzo
- The Bioarte Ltd Laboratories at Life Science Park, San Gwann, Malta
| | | | | | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Mark G. Martens
- Reading Hospital, Tower Health, West Reading, PA 19611, USA
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - George P. Tegos
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Mohamed N. Seleem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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9
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Bublitz A, Brauer M, Wagner S, Hofer W, Müsken M, Deschner F, Lesker TR, Neumann-Schaal M, Paul LS, Nübel U, Bartel J, Kany AM, Zühlke D, Bernecker S, Jansen R, Sievers S, Riedel K, Herrmann J, Müller R, Fuchs TM, Strowig T. The natural product chlorotonil A preserves colonization resistance and prevents relapsing Clostridioides difficile infection. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:734-750.e8. [PMID: 37098342 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) remain a healthcare problem due to high rates of relapsing/recurrent CDIs (rCDIs). Breakdown of colonization resistance promoted by broad-spectrum antibiotics and the persistence of spores contribute to rCDI. Here, we demonstrate antimicrobial activity of the natural product class of chlorotonils against C. difficile. In contrast to vancomycin, chlorotonil A (ChA) efficiently inhibits disease and prevents rCDI in mice. Notably, ChA affects the murine and porcine microbiota to a lesser extent than vancomycin, largely preserving microbiota composition and minimally impacting the intestinal metabolome. Correspondingly, ChA treatment does not break colonization resistance against C. difficile and is linked to faster recovery of the microbiota after CDI. Additionally, ChA accumulates in the spore and inhibits outgrowth of C. difficile spores, thus potentially contributing to lower rates of rCDI. We conclude that chlorotonils have unique antimicrobial properties targeting critical steps in the infection cycle of C. difficile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Bublitz
- Department of Microbial Immune Regulation, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Madita Brauer
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Microbial Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; Institute of Marine Biotechnology e.V., Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stefanie Wagner
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Jena, Germany
| | - Walter Hofer
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Mathias Müsken
- Central Facility for Microscopy, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Felix Deschner
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Till R Lesker
- Department of Microbial Immune Regulation, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Meina Neumann-Schaal
- Bacterial Metabolomics, Leibniz Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany; Braunschweig Integrated Center of Systems Biology (BRICS), Technical University, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Lena-Sophie Paul
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Jena, Germany
| | - Ulrich Nübel
- Braunschweig Integrated Center of Systems Biology (BRICS), Technical University, Braunschweig, Germany; Microbial Genome Research, Leibniz Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jürgen Bartel
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Microbial Proteomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Andreas M Kany
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Daniela Zühlke
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Microbial Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Steffen Bernecker
- Department of Microbial Drugs, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Rolf Jansen
- Department of Microbial Drugs, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Susanne Sievers
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Microbial Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Katharina Riedel
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Microbial Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; Institute of Marine Biotechnology e.V., Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jennifer Herrmann
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarbrücken, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Rolf Müller
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarbrücken, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Thilo M Fuchs
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Jena, Germany.
| | - Till Strowig
- Department of Microbial Immune Regulation, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany; Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), Hannover, Germany.
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10
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Zhou C, Wang Y, Li C, Xie Z, Dai L. Amelioration of Colitis by a Gut Bacterial Consortium Producing Anti-Inflammatory Secondary Bile Acids. Microbiol Spectr 2023:e0333022. [PMID: 36943054 PMCID: PMC10101101 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03330-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The Integrative Human Microbiome Project and other cohort studies have indicated that inflammatory bowel disease is accompanied by dysbiosis of gut microbiota, decreased production of secondary bile acids, and increased levels of primary bile acids. Secondary bile acids, such as ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA), have been reported to be anti-inflammatory, yet it remains to be studied whether introducing selected bacteria strains to restore bile acid metabolism of the gut microbiome can alleviate intestinal inflammation. In this study, we screened human gut bacterial strains for bile acid metabolism and designed a consortium of three species, including Clostridium AP sp000509125, Bacteroides ovatus, and Eubacterium limosum, and named it BAC (bile acid consortium). We showed that the three-strain gut bacterial consortium BAC is capable of converting conjugated primary bile acids taurochenodeoxycholic acid and glycochenodeoxycholic acid to secondary bile acids UDCA and LCA in vitro. Oral gavage treatment with BAC in mice resulted in protective effects against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, including reduced weight loss and increased colon length. Furthermore, BAC treatment increased the fecal level of bile acids, including UDCA and LCA. BAC treatment enhanced intestinal barrier function, which may be attributed to the increased activation of the bile acid receptor TGR5 by secondary bile acids. Finally, we examined the remodeling of gut microbiota by BAC treatment. Taken together, the three-strain gut bacterial consortium BAC restored the dysregulated bile acid metabolism and alleviated DSS-induced colitis. Our study provides a proof-of-concept demonstration that a rationally designed bacterial consortium can reshape the metabolism of the gut microbiome to treat diseases. IMPORTANCE Secondary bile acids have been reported to be anti-inflammatory, yet it remains to be studied whether introducing selected bacteria strains to restore bile acid metabolism of the gut microbiome can alleviate intestinal inflammation. To address this gap, we designed a consortium of human gut bacterial strains based on their metabolic capacity to produce secondary bile acids UDCA and LCA, and we evaluated the efficacy of single bacterial strains and the bacterial consortium in treating the murine colitis model. We found that oral gavage of the bacterial consortium to mice restored secondary bile acid metabolism to increase levels of UDCA and LCA, which induced the activation of TGR5 to improve gut-barrier integrity and reduced the inflammation in murine colitis. Overall, our study demonstrates that rationally designed bacterial consortia can reshape the metabolism of the gut microbiome and provides novel insights into the application of live biotherapeutics for treating IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhua Zhou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ying Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Cun Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhiyong Xie
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lei Dai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China
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11
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Yu DY, Oh SH, Kim IS, Kim GI, Kim JA, Moon YS, Jang JC, Lee SS, Jung JH, Park HC, Cho KK. Effects of lactic acid bacteria fermented feed and three types of lactic acid bacteria (L. plantarum, L. acidophilus, B. animalis) on intestinal microbiota and T cell polarization (Th1, Th2, Th17, Treg) in the intestinal lymph nodes and spleens of rats. Anim Biosci 2023; 36:156-166. [PMID: 36397706 PMCID: PMC9834648 DOI: 10.5713/ab.22.0301] [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: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In this study, we investigated the effects of Rubus coreanus-derived lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermented feed (RC-LAB fermented feed) and three types of LAB (Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium animalis) on the expression of transcription factors and cytokines in Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg cells in the intestinal lymph nodes and spleens of rats. In addition, the effect on intestinal microbiota composition and body weight was investigated. METHODS Five-week-old male rats were assigned to five treatments and eight replicates. The expression of transcription factors and cytokines of Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg cells in the intestinal lymph nodes and spleens was analyzed using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assays. Intestinal tract microbiota compositions were analyzed by next-generation sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays. RESULTS RC-LAB fermented feed and three types of LAB increased the expression of transcription factors and cytokines in Th1, Treg cells and Galectin-9, but decreased in Th2 and Th17 cells. In addition, the intestinal microbiota composition changed, the body weight and Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio decreased, and the relative abundance of LAB increased. CONCLUSION LAB fermented feed and three types of LAB showed an immune modulation effect by inducing T cell polarization and increased LAB in the intestinal microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Yoon Yu
- Division of Animal Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725,
Korea
| | - Sang-Hyon Oh
- Division of Animal Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725,
Korea
| | - In Sung Kim
- Division of Animal Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725,
Korea
| | - Gwang Il Kim
- Division of Animal Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725,
Korea
| | - Jeong A Kim
- Division of Animal Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725,
Korea
| | - Yang Soo Moon
- Division of Animal Bioscience & Integrated Biotechnology, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725,
Korea
| | - Jae Cheol Jang
- Division of Animal Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725,
Korea
| | - Sang Suk Lee
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, Sunchon National University, Sunchon 57922,
Korea
| | | | | | - Kwang Keun Cho
- Division of Animal Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725,
Korea,Corresponding Author: Kwang Keun Cho, Tel: +82-55-772-3286, Fax: +82-55-772-3689, E-mail:
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12
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Forster ER, Yang X, Tai AK, Hang HC, Shen A. Identification of a Bile Acid-Binding Transcription Factor in Clostridioides difficile Using Chemical Proteomics. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:3086-3099. [PMID: 36279369 PMCID: PMC10518218 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium that is the leading cause of hospital-acquired gastroenteritis in the US. In the gut milieu, C. difficile encounters microbiota-derived, growth-inhibiting bile acids that are thought to be a significant mechanism of colonization resistance. While the levels of certain bile acids in the gut correlate with susceptibility to C. difficile infection, their molecular targets in C. difficile remain unknown. In this study, we sought to use chemical proteomics to identify bile acid-interacting proteins in C. difficile. Using photoaffinity bile acid probes and chemical proteomics, we identified a previously uncharacterized MerR family protein, CD3583 (now BapR), as a putative bile acid-sensing transcription regulator. Our data indicate that BapR specifically binds to and is stabilized by lithocholic acid (LCA) in C. difficile. Although loss of BapR did not affect C. difficile's sensitivity to LCA, ΔbapR cells elongated more in the presence of LCA compared to wild-type cells. Transcriptomics revealed that BapR regulates several gene clusters, with the expression of the mdeA-cd3573 locus being specifically de-repressed in the presence of LCA in a BapR-dependent manner. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that BapR directly binds to the mdeA promoter region. Because mdeA is involved in amino acid-related sulfur metabolism and the mdeA-cd3573 locus encodes putative transporters, we propose that BapR senses a gastrointestinal tract-specific small molecule, LCA, as an environmental cue for metabolic adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Forster
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, United States
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, United States
| | - Xinglin Yang
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Albert K Tai
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, United States
- Data Intensive Studies Center, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Howard C Hang
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Aimee Shen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, United States
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13
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Schnizlein MK, Young VB. Capturing the environment of the Clostridioides difficile infection cycle. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 19:508-520. [PMID: 35468953 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-022-00610-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile (formerly Clostridium difficile) infection is a substantial health and economic burden worldwide. Great strides have been made over the past several years in characterizing the physiology of C. difficile infection, particularly regarding how gut microorganisms and their host work together to provide colonization resistance. As mammalian hosts and their indigenous gut microbiota have co-evolved, they have formed a complex yet stable relationship that prevents invading microorganisms from establishing themselves. In this Review, we discuss the latest advances in our understanding of C. difficile physiology that have contributed to its success as a pathogen, including its versatile survival factors and ability to adapt to unique niches. Using discoveries regarding microorganism-host and microorganism-microorganism interactions that constitute colonization resistance, we place C. difficile within the fiercely competitive gut environment. A comprehensive understanding of these relationships is required to continue the development of precision medicine-based treatments for C. difficile infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew K Schnizlein
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Vincent B Young
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Internal Medicine/Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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14
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Reconsidering the in vivo functions of Clostridial Stickland amino acid fermentations. Anaerobe 2022; 76:102600. [PMID: 35709938 PMCID: PMC9831356 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2022.102600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Stickland amino acid fermentations occur primarily among species of Clostridia. An ancient form of metabolism, Stickland fermentations use amino acids as electron acceptors in the absence of stronger oxidizing agents and provide metabolic capabilities to support growth when other fermentable substrates, such as carbohydrates, are lacking. The reactions were originally described as paired fermentations of amino acid electron donors, such as the branched-chain amino acids, with recipients that include proline and glycine. We present a redox-focused view of Stickland metabolism following electron flow through metabolically diverse oxidative reactions and the defined-substrate reductase systems, including for proline and glycine, and the role of dual redox pathways for substrates such as leucine and ornithine. Genetic studies and Environment and Gene Regulatory Interaction Network (EGRIN) models for the pathogen Clostridioides difficile have improved our understanding of the regulation and metabolic recruitment of these systems, and their functions in modulating inter-species interactions within host-pathogen-commensal systems and uses in industrial and environmental applications.
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15
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Kastl A, Zong W, Gershuni VM, Friedman ES, Tanes C, Boateng A, Mitchell WJ, O’Connor K, Bittinger K, Terry NA, Bales C, Albenberg L, Wu GD. Dietary fiber-based regulation of bile salt hydrolase activity in the gut microbiota and its relevance to human disease. Gut Microbes 2022; 14:2083417. [PMID: 35658830 PMCID: PMC9176262 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2022.2083417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Complications of short bowel syndrome (SBS) include malabsorption and bacterial overgrowth, requiring prolonged dependence on parenteral nutrition (PN). We hypothesized that the intolerance of whole food in some SBS patients might be due to the effect of dietary fiber on the gut microbiome. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing and targeted metabolomics were performed using biospecimens collected from 55 children with SBS and a murine dietary fiber model. Bioinformatic analyses were performed on these datasets as well as from a healthy human dietary intervention study. Compared to healthy controls, the gut microbiota in SBS had lower diversity and increased Proteobacteria, a pattern most pronounced in children on PN and inversely correlated with whole food consumption. Whole food intake correlated with increased glycoside hydrolases (GH) and bile salt hydrolases (BSH) with reduced fecal conjugated bile acids suggesting that dietary fiber regulates BSH activity via GHs. Mechanistic evidence supporting this notion was generated via fecal and plasma bile acid profiling in a healthy human fiber-free dietary intervention study as well as in a dietary fiber mouse experiment. Gaussian mixture modeling of fecal bile acids was used to identify three clinically relevant SBS phenotypes. Dietary fiber is associated with bile acid deconjugation likely via an interaction between gut microbiota BSHs and GHs in the small intestine, which may lead to whole food intolerance in patients with SBS. This mechanism not only has potential utility in clinical phenotyping and targeted therapeutics in SBS based on bile acid metabolism but may have relevance to other intestinal disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Kastl
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Wenjing Zong
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Victoria M. Gershuni
- Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elliot S. Friedman
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ceylan Tanes
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Adoma Boateng
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - William J. Mitchell
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kathleen O’Connor
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kyle Bittinger
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Natalie A. Terry
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Christina Bales
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lindsey Albenberg
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA,CONTACT Lindsey Albenberg Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 2716 South Street, 14-140, Philadelphia, PA, 19146, USA
| | - Gary D. Wu
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA,Gary D. Wu Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 915 BRB II/III, 421 Curie Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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16
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The Stickland Reaction Precursor trans-4-Hydroxy-l-Proline Differentially Impacts the Metabolism of Clostridioides difficile and Commensal Clostridia. mSphere 2022; 7:e0092621. [PMID: 35350846 PMCID: PMC9044972 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00926-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
An intact gut microbiota confers colonization resistance against Clostridioides difficile through a variety of mechanisms, likely including competition for nutrients. Recently, proline was identified as an important environmental amino acid that C. difficile uses to support growth and cause significant disease. A posttranslationally modified form, trans-4-hydroxyproline, is highly abundant in collagen, which is degraded by host proteases in response to C. difficile toxin activity. The ability to dehydrate trans-4-hydroxyproline via the HypD glycyl radical enzyme is widespread among gut microbiota, including C. difficile and members of the commensal Clostridia, suggesting that this amino acid is an important nutrient in the host environment. Therefore, we constructed a C. difficile ΔhypD mutant and found that it was modestly impaired in fitness in a mouse model of infection, and was associated with an altered microbiota when compared to mice challenged with the wild-type strain. Changes in the microbiota between the two groups were largely driven by members of the Lachnospiraceae family and the Clostridium genus. We found that C. difficile and type strains of three commensal Clostridia had significant alterations to their metabolic gene expression in the presence of trans-4-hydroxyproline in vitro. The proline reductase (prd) genes were elevated in C. difficile, consistent with the hypothesis that trans-4-hydroxyproline is used by C. difficile to supply proline for energy metabolism. Similar transcripts were also elevated in some commensal Clostridia tested, although each strain responded differently. This suggests that the uptake and utilization of other nutrients by the commensal Clostridia may be affected by trans-4-hydroxyproline metabolism, highlighting how a common nutrient may be a signal to each organism to adapt to a unique niche. Further elucidation of the differences between them in the presence of hydroxyproline and other key nutrients will be important in determining their role in nutrient competition against C. difficile. IMPORTANCE Proline is an essential environmental amino acid that C. difficile uses to support growth and cause significant disease. A posttranslationally modified form, hydroxyproline, is highly abundant in collagen, which is degraded by host proteases in response to C. difficile toxin activity. The ability to dehydrate hydroxyproline via the HypD glycyl radical enzyme is widespread among gut microbiota, including C. difficile and members of the commensal Clostridia, suggesting that this amino acid is an important nutrient in the host environment. We found that C. difficile and three commensal Clostridia strains had significant, but different, alterations to their metabolic gene expression in the presence of hydroxyproline in vitro. This suggests that the uptake and utilization of other nutrients by the commensal Clostridia may be affected by hydroxyproline metabolism, highlighting how a common nutrient may be a signal to each organism to adapt to a unique niche. Further elucidation of the differences between them in the presence of hydroxyproline and other key nutrients will be important to determining their role in nutrient competition against C. difficile.
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17
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Aguirre AM, Yalcinkaya N, Wu Q, Swennes A, Tessier ME, Roberts P, Miyajima F, Savidge T, Sorg JA. Bile acid-independent protection against Clostridioides difficile infection. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010015. [PMID: 34665847 PMCID: PMC8555850 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infections occur upon ecological / metabolic disruptions to the normal colonic microbiota, commonly due to broad-spectrum antibiotic use. Metabolism of bile acids through a 7α-dehydroxylation pathway found in select members of the healthy microbiota is regarded to be the protective mechanism by which C. difficile is excluded. These 7α-dehydroxylated secondary bile acids are highly toxic to C. difficile vegetative growth, and antibiotic treatment abolishes the bacteria that perform this metabolism. However, the data that supports the hypothesis that secondary bile acids protect against C. difficile infection is supported only by in vitro data and correlative studies. Here we show that bacteria that 7α-dehydroxylate primary bile acids protect against C. difficile infection in a bile acid-independent manner. We monoassociated germ-free, wildtype or Cyp8b1-/- (cholic acid-deficient) mutant mice and infected them with C. difficile spores. We show that 7α-dehydroxylation (i.e., secondary bile acid generation) is dispensable for protection against C. difficile infection and provide evidence that Stickland metabolism by these organisms consumes nutrients essential for C. difficile growth. Our findings indicate secondary bile acid production by the microbiome is a useful biomarker for a C. difficile-resistant environment but the microbiome protects against C. difficile infection in bile acid-independent mechanisms. Secondary bile acid production by the colonic microbiome strongly correlates with an environment that is resistant to C. difficile invasion. However, it remained unclear if these bile acids provided in vivo protection. Here, we show that members of the microbiome that generate secondary bile acids (e.g., C. scindens) protect against C. difficile disease independently of secondary bile acid generation. These results are important because efforts to restore colonization resistance (e.g., FMT or precision bacterial therapy) focus on restoring secondary bile acid generation. Instead, restoring the organisms that produce 5-aminovalerate or consume proline / glycine are more important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Martinez Aguirre
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Nazli Yalcinkaya
- Baylor College of Medicine & Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Qinglong Wu
- Baylor College of Medicine & Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Alton Swennes
- Baylor College of Medicine & Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Mary Elizabeth Tessier
- Baylor College of Medicine & Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Paul Roberts
- Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Fabio Miyajima
- Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ceara branch, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Tor Savidge
- Baylor College of Medicine & Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Joseph A. Sorg
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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18
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Suchodolski JS. Analysis of the gut microbiome in dogs and cats. Vet Clin Pathol 2021; 50 Suppl 1:6-17. [PMID: 34514619 PMCID: PMC9292158 DOI: 10.1111/vcp.13031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The gut microbiome is an important immune and metabolic organ. Intestinal bacteria produce various metabolites that influence the health of the intestine and other organ systems, including kidney, brain, and heart. Changes in the microbiome in diseased states are termed dysbiosis. The concept of dysbiosis is constantly evolving and includes changes in microbiome diversity and/or structure and functional changes (eg, altered production of bacterial metabolites). Molecular tools are now the standard for microbiome analysis. Sequencing of microbial genes provides information about the bacteria present and their functional potential but lacks standardization and analytical validation of methods and consistency in the reporting of results. This makes it difficult to compare results across studies or for individual clinical patients. The Dysbiosis Index (DI) is a validated quantitative PCR assay for canine fecal samples that measures the abundance of seven important bacterial taxa and summarizes the results as one single number. Reference intervals are established for dogs, and the DI can be used to assess the microbiome in clinical patients over time and in response to therapy (eg, fecal microbiota transplantation). In situ hybridization or immunohistochemistry allows the identification of mucosa‐adherent and intracellular bacteria in animals with intestinal disease, especially granulomatous colitis. Future directions include the measurement of bacterial metabolites in feces or serum as markers for the appropriate function of the microbiome. This article summarizes different approaches to the analysis of gut microbiota and how they might be applicable to research studies and clinical practice in dogs and cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan S Suchodolski
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Clearance of Clostridioides difficile Colonization Is Associated with Antibiotic-Specific Bacterial Changes. mSphere 2021; 6:6/3/e01238-20. [PMID: 33952668 PMCID: PMC8103992 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.01238-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The community of microorganisms, or microbiota, in our intestines prevents pathogens like C. difficile from colonizing and causing infection. However, antibiotics can disturb the gut microbiota, which allows C. difficile to colonize. C. difficile infections (CDI) are primarily treated with antibiotics, which frequently leads to recurrent infections because the microbiota has not yet returned to a resistant state. The gut bacterial community prevents many pathogens from colonizing the intestine. Previous studies have associated specific bacteria with clearing Clostridioides difficile colonization across different community perturbations. However, those bacteria alone have been unable to clear C. difficile colonization. To elucidate the changes necessary to clear colonization, we compared differences in bacterial abundance between communities able and unable to clear C. difficile colonization. We treated mice with titrated doses of antibiotics prior to C. difficile challenge, resulting in no colonization, colonization and clearance, or persistent colonization. Previously, we observed that clindamycin-treated mice were susceptible to colonization but spontaneously cleared C. difficile. Therefore, we investigated whether other antibiotics would show the same result. We found that reduced doses of cefoperazone and streptomycin permitted colonization and clearance of C. difficile. Mice that cleared colonization had antibiotic-specific community changes and predicted interactions with C. difficile. Clindamycin treatment led to a bloom in populations related to Enterobacteriaceae. Clearance of C. difficile was concurrent with the reduction of those blooming populations and the restoration of community members related to the Porphyromonadaceae and Bacteroides. Cefoperazone created a susceptible community characterized by drastic reductions in the community diversity and interactions and a sustained increase in the abundance of many facultative anaerobes. Lastly, clearance in streptomycin-treated mice was associated with the recovery of multiple members of the Porphyromonadaceae, with little overlap in the specific Porphyromonadaceae observed in the clindamycin treatment. Further elucidation of how C. difficile colonization is cleared from different gut bacterial communities will improve C. difficile infection treatments. IMPORTANCE The community of microorganisms, or microbiota, in our intestines prevents pathogens like C. difficile from colonizing and causing infection. However, antibiotics can disturb the gut microbiota, which allows C. difficile to colonize. C. difficile infections (CDI) are primarily treated with antibiotics, which frequently leads to recurrent infections because the microbiota has not yet returned to a resistant state. The recurrent infection cycle often ends when the fecal microbiota from a presumed resistant person is transplanted into the susceptible person. Although this treatment is highly effective, we do not understand the mechanism. We hope to improve the treatment of CDI through elucidating how the bacterial community eliminates CDI. We found that C. difficile colonized susceptible mice but was spontaneously eliminated in an antibiotic treatment-specific manner. These data indicate that each community had different requirements for clearing colonization. Understanding how different communities clear colonization will reveal targets to improve CDI treatments.
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20
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Li X, Kang Y, Huang Y, Xiao Y, Song L, Lu S, Ren Z. A strain of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron attenuates colonization of Clostridioides difficile and affects intestinal microbiota and bile acids profile in a mouse model. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 137:111290. [PMID: 33508620 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a growing global public health threat. While fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an effective therapy for CDI, a number of challenges limit its application. Studies suggest that probiotics may be a promising alternative therapy. In the current study, we evaluated whether Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (B. thetaiotaomicron) would inhibit colonization of toxigenic BI/NAP1/027 C. difficile in a mouse model. We found that B. thetaiotaomicron administration decreased the copies of C. difficile and inhibited inflammation in the colon. 16S rRNA sequencing showed that B. thetaiotaomicron administration was associated with a significantly increased relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and decreased level of Proteobacteria, leading to the reversal of the effect of antibiotics treatment and C. difficile infection on microbiota. B. thetaiotaomicron administration was associated with increases in the concentrations of alpha-muricholic acid, beta-muricholic acid, 12 ketolithocholic acid, and deoxycholic acid which are known to inhibit the growth of C. difficile, as well as reductions in the level of taurocholic acid, which promotes germination of C. difficile. Altered profile of major high abundance bile acids by B. thetaiotaomicron administration was similar to that with FMT treatment. Based on these results, we proposed the concept of "the ratio of promotion/inhibition BAs" which would advance our understanding of the relation of C. difficile and BAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Research Units of Discovery of Unknown Bacteria and Function (2018RU010), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Ying Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Research Units of Discovery of Unknown Bacteria and Function (2018RU010), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 102206, China; Shunyi District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanming Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Research Units of Discovery of Unknown Bacteria and Function (2018RU010), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Yuchun Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Research Units of Discovery of Unknown Bacteria and Function (2018RU010), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Liqiong Song
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Research Units of Discovery of Unknown Bacteria and Function (2018RU010), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Shan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Research Units of Discovery of Unknown Bacteria and Function (2018RU010), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Zhihong Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Research Units of Discovery of Unknown Bacteria and Function (2018RU010), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 102206, China.
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21
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Bile acids LCA and CDCA inhibited porcine deltacoronavirus replication in vitro. Vet Microbiol 2021; 257:109097. [PMID: 33933854 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2021.109097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is an emerging enteric coronavirus that causes gastroenteritis in pigs and no vaccines or antiviral drugs are available. Bile acids are active factors in intestines and influence the replication of enteric viruses. Currently, the role of bile acids on PDCoV replication is unknown. In this study, we tested the effects of different types of bile acids on the replication of PDCoV in cell culture. We found that physiological concentrations of bile acids chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA) had antiviral activity against PDCoV in porcine kidney cell line (LLC-PK1) and porcine small intestinal epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2). In IPEC-J2 cells, CDCA and LCA inhibited PDCoV replication at post-entry stages by inducing the production of interferon (IFN)-λ3 and IFN-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) via G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). In summary, bile acids CDCA and LCA restricted PDCoV infection and LCA functioned through a GPCR-IFN-λ3-ISG15 signaling axis in IPEC-J2 cells. Our results may open new avenues for the development of antiviral drugs to treat PDCoV infection in pigs.
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22
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Complete Genome Sequence of Peptacetobacter (Clostridium) hiranonis Strain DGF055142, Isolated from Dog Feces from Flagstaff, Arizona, USA, 2019. Microbiol Resour Announc 2021; 10:10/9/e00067-21. [PMID: 33664150 PMCID: PMC7936630 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00067-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A single-chromosome closed genome of Peptacetobacter (Clostridium) hiranonis strain DGF055142 was generated using Illumina MiSeq short reads paired with Oxford Nanopore MinION long reads. This isolate was obtained from a canine in Flagstaff, Arizona, in 2019. Peptacetobacter (C.) hiranonis was hypothesized to contribute to canine Clostridium difficile infection resistance. A single-chromosome closed genome of Peptacetobacter (Clostridium) hiranonis strain DGF055142 was generated using Illumina MiSeq short reads paired with Oxford Nanopore MinION long reads. This isolate was obtained from a canine in Flagstaff, Arizona, in 2019. Peptacetobacter (C.) hiranonis was hypothesized to contribute to canine Clostridium difficile infection resistance.
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23
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Tan X, Letendre JH, Collins JJ, Wong WW. Synthetic biology in the clinic: engineering vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Cell 2021; 184:881-898. [PMID: 33571426 PMCID: PMC7897318 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic biology is a design-driven discipline centered on engineering novel biological functions through the discovery, characterization, and repurposing of molecular parts. Several synthetic biological solutions to critical biomedical problems are on the verge of widespread adoption and demonstrate the burgeoning maturation of the field. Here, we highlight applications of synthetic biology in vaccine development, molecular diagnostics, and cell-based therapeutics, emphasizing technologies approved for clinical use or in active clinical trials. We conclude by drawing attention to recent innovations in synthetic biology that are likely to have a significant impact on future applications in biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Tan
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA 02115, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Justin H Letendre
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - James J Collins
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Synthetic Biology Center, MIT, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Wilson W Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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24
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Contribution of Inhibitory Metabolites and Competition for Nutrients to Colonization Resistance against Clostridioides difficile by Commensal Clostridium. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9020371. [PMID: 33673352 PMCID: PMC7918557 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is an anaerobic pathogen that causes significant morbidity and mortality. Understanding the mechanisms of colonization resistance against C. difficile is important for elucidating the mechanisms by which C. difficile is able to colonize the gut after antibiotics. Commensal Clostridium play a key role in colonization resistance. They are able to modify bile acids which alter the C. difficile life cycle. Commensal Clostridium also produce other inhibitory metabolites including antimicrobials and short chain fatty acids. They also compete with C. difficile for vital nutrients such as proline. Understanding the mechanistic effects that these metabolites have on C. difficile and other gut pathogens is important for the development of new therapeutics against C. difficile infection (CDI), which are urgently needed.
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25
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Abstract
In this issue of Cell, Alavi et al. report that infection by Vibrio cholerae is blocked by gut microbiome-mediated hydrolysis of bile acids. Cholera therefore joins amebic dysentery and Clostridioides difficile colitis as enteric infections profoundly influenced by the microbiome's impact on bile acid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - William A Petri
- Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, PO Box 801340, Charlottesville, VA 22908-1340, USA.
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26
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Pike CM, Theriot CM. Mechanisms of Colonization Resistance Against Clostridioides difficile. J Infect Dis 2020; 223:S194-S200. [PMID: 33326565 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is an urgent antimicrobial-resistant bacterium, causing mild to moderate and sometimes life-threatening disease. Commensal gut microbes are critical for providing colonization resistance against C difficile and can be leveraged as non-antibiotic alternative therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of C difficile infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen M Pike
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Casey M Theriot
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
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27
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Budi N, Safdar N, Rose WE. Treatment issues in recurrent Clostridioides difficile infections and the possible role of germinants. FEMS MICROBES 2020; 1:xtaa001. [PMID: 37333958 PMCID: PMC10117431 DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtaa001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is the number one cause of hospital-acquired infections in the United States and one of the CDC's urgent-level pathogen threats. The inflammation caused by pathogenic C. difficile results in diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis. Patients who undergo clinically successful treatment for this disease commonly experience recurrent infections. Current treatment options can eradicate the vegetative cell form of the bacteria but do not impact the spore form, which is impervious to antibiotics and resists conventional environmental cleaning procedures. Antibiotics used in treating C. difficile infections (CDI) often do not eradicate the pathogen and can prevent regeneration of the microbiome, leaving them vulnerable to recurrent CDI and future infections upon subsequent non-CDI-directed antibiotic therapy. Addressing the management of C. difficile spores in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is important to make further progress in CDI treatment. Currently, no treatment options focus on reducing GI spores throughout CDI antibiotic therapy. This review focuses on colonization of the GI tract, current treatment options and potential treatment directions emphasizing germinant with antibiotic combinations to prevent recurrent disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah Budi
- Corresponding author: School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Room 4123, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA. Tel: +1-920-419-7704; E-mail:
| | - Nasia Safdar
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA, 53726
| | - Warren E Rose
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA, 53705
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