Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research

A host-directed virulence factor of Clostridium perfringens is modulated by gut commensal strains

The paper investigates how gut commensal strains modulate the growth and virulence of Clostridium perfringens through substrate competition and protein level changes.

Gnotobiotic OMM12 mice support sustained Clostridioides difficile colonization without antibiotic pretreatment

This study shows that gnotobiotic OMM12 mice can sustain Clostridioides difficile colonization for 20 days without antibiotic pretreatment, allowing research on host-microbiota-pathogen interactions.

Adaptation of the Geometric Viability assay as a high throughput assay to measure Clostridioides difficile spore germination

The paper adapts the Geometric Viability assay to measure C. difficile spore germination, finding it highly consistent with conventional methods and capable of detecting germination sensitivity differences.

An endolysin-expressing probiotic attenuates Clostridioides difficile infection in germ-free and dysbiotic microbiota-associated mice

This study shows that an engineered probiotic expressing an endolysin reduces Clostridioides difficile infection in mice with disrupted microbiota.

Development of a CRISPR-Cas12a Assay for Detection of the PnimBG Mutation Associated with Heme-Dependent Metronidazole Resistance in Clostridioides difficile

This paper develops a CRISPR-Cas12a assay to detect the PnimBG mutation linked to heme-dependent metronidazole resistance in C. difficile, showing high accuracy in clinical isolates.

Resource-access breadth marks protective strains against toxigenic Clostridioides difficile

The paper identifies resource-access breadth as a protective trait in non-toxigenic Clostridioides difficile strains, distinguishing protection from low disease potential through metabolic and competitive profiling.

Repurposing nystatin and taurocholate to target intracellular spore persistence during antibiotic treatment to prevent recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection.

This study shows that combining nystatin, taurocholate, and antibiotics, with nanoparticle delivery, reduces recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection by targeting intracellular spores.

Gut complement C1q and C3 interact with Clostridioides difficile spores via CdeM and contribute to pathogenesis.

This study identifies complement proteins C1q and C3 as interacting with C. difficile spores via CdeM, influencing spore entry, persistence, and recurrence of infection.

Immunotherapy restores therapeutic efficacy of fecal microbiome transplants to treat Clostridioides difficile

This study shows that IL-10 signaling deficiency impairs FMT engraftment and C. difficile resolution, and that IL-10 immunotherapy can restore FMT efficacy in mice.

Intestinal Dysbiosis in Necrotic Enteritis: Dissecting the Roles of Eimeria and Clostridium perfringens

This study investigates how Eimeria and Clostridium perfringens contribute to intestinal dysbiosis in necrotic enteritis, showing Eimeria drives dysbiosis and facilitates C. perfringens colonization.

Neurokinin 1 receptor blockade is associated with increased survival of patients with C. difficile infection

This study shows that blocking the Neurokinin 1 receptor with antagonists improves survival in C. difficile infection patients and reduces vascular inflammation.

The Microbiota Dictates Vendor-Derived Differences in a Murine Clostridioides difficile Infection Model

This study shows that differences in gut microbiota between two mouse vendors affect susceptibility to C. difficile infection, and cohousing can transfer resistance.

Receptor-binding domain 2 of Clostridioides difficile binary toxin as a promising vaccine component against C. difficile infection

This study identifies RBD2 of C. difficile binary toxin as a promising vaccine component that provides protection against CDT-mediated infection in animal models.

Generation and characterization of a novel MHC-II tetramer for tracking and characterization of toxin B-specific CD4+ T cell responses

The paper develops an MHC-II tetramer to track TcdB-specific CD4+ T cells in mice, validating its use in identifying Tfh cells and generating toxin-specific T cells.

A single DNA methylation site regulates cell fate during Clostridioides difficile sporulation.

The paper identifies a single DNA methylation site that regulates sporulation in C. difficile by enhancing spoIIE transcription and sigmaF activation, revealing its role in pathogen persistence and potential as an antimicrobial target.

Antibiotics promote susceptibility to C. difficile infection through a CCR5-dependent immune response

This study shows antibiotics increase susceptibility to C. difficile infection by promoting CCR5-dependent immune responses in mice.

EndD mediates butyrate-dependent toxin release in Clostridioides difficile

This study identifies EndD as the mediator of butyrate-dependent toxin release in C. difficile, showing it is regulated by SigK and not by previously known mechanisms.

Reliable delineation of Clostridioides difficile and related members of the family Peptostreptococcaceae using phylogenomics and spore coat protein-specific molecular markers

This study improves classification of Clostridioides difficile and related bacteria using phylogenomics and spore coat protein markers, leading to taxonomic revisions.

Phase variable colony morphotypes of Clostridioides difficile elicit distinct host responses during acute infection

This study compares the host immune response and fitness of rough and smooth colony morphotypes of C. difficile during infection, finding that rough colonies elicit stronger immune responses but lower fitness.

Naturally occurring CodY variants alter ligand binding, DNA target affinity, and virulence in Clostridioides difficile

This study identifies two naturally occurring CodY variants in C. difficile that alter ligand binding and virulence by affecting toxin repression and promoter binding.

Colonic epithelial regeneration shapes susceptibility to Clostridioides difficile infection

The paper identifies an inducible microfold-like cell population in the colon associated with severe Clostridioides difficile infection susceptibility and shows its role in epithelial repair and immune response.

Contact dependent suppression of Clostridioides difficile sporulation by enterococci requires the endocarditis and biofilm pilus

This study shows that enterococci reduce C. difficile sporulation through contact-dependent mechanisms involving surface pili, suggesting a role for gut microbiota in controlling spore formation.

Pharmacological reduction of neutrophil infiltration reduces Clostridioides difficile infection severity

This study shows that misoprostol reduces C. difficile infection severity by decreasing neutrophil infiltration and G-CSF levels, highlighting innate immune modulation as a therapeutic strategy.

Bile acid dependent attenuation of toxin mediated disease is independent of colonization resistance against C. difficile

This study shows that secondary bile acid metabolism, not nutrient competition, reduces C. difficile toxin-mediated disease in vivo, independent of colonization resistance.

Phylogenomic analysis of the collagen-like BclA proteins in Clostridioides difficile

This study analyzes the conservation and variability of BclA proteins across C. difficile clades using genomic data from over 25,000 genomes, revealing clade-specific differences in bclA gene presence and structure.

Prophylactic Lipoxin A4 Attenuates Clostridioides difficile Infection by Augmenting Epithelial Barrier and Resolving Inflammation

This study shows that prophylactic Lipoxin A4 reduces Clostridioides difficile infection by improving epithelial barrier function and reducing inflammation in both in vitro and mouse models.

The CspC:CspA heterodimer transduces germinant and co-germinant signals during Clostridioides difficile spore germination.

This study identifies the CspC:CspA heterodimer as the signaling complex that transduces germinant and co-germinant signals during C. difficile spore germination.

High-fat diet rewires gut host-microbiota relationship to derive worse outcomes following Clostridioides difficile infection

This study shows high-fat diets worsen outcomes of Clostridioides difficile infection in mice by altering immune responses and gut microbiota.

Characterization of the clade 4 non-toxigenic C. difficile isolate L-NTCD03 carrying the cfr(B) gene

The paper characterizes a non-toxigenic C. difficile strain, L-NTCD03, showing antimicrobial resistance and non-toxicity, suggesting its potential as a live biotherapeutic.

Clostridioides difficile stimulates CCL20 expression in human colonoid monolayers in a transwell-based co-culture system that supports its anaerobic growth

This study develops a co-culture system to study C. difficile interaction with human intestinal epithelium and finds CCL20 expression is upregulated in response to the bacterium.