In vivo commensal control of Clostridioides difficile virulence.
Publication Title
Cell Host Microbe
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-10-2021
Keywords
washington; seattle; isb; Clostridioides difficile; Clostridium sardiniense; Paraclostridium bifermentans; anaerobe metabolism; carbon source enrichment analysis; colitis; conventional mouse; gnotobiotic mouse; metabolomics; metatranscriptomics.
Abstract
Leveraging systems biology approaches, we illustrate how metabolically distinct species of Clostridia protect against or worsen Clostridioides difficile infection in mice by modulating the pathogen's colonization, growth, and virulence to impact host survival. Gnotobiotic mice colonized with the amino acid fermenter Paraclostridium bifermentans survive infection with reduced disease severity, while mice colonized with the butyrate-producer, Clostridium sardiniense, succumb more rapidly. Systematic in vivo analyses revealed how each commensal alters the gut-nutrient environment to modulate the pathogen's metabolism, gene regulatory networks, and toxin production. Oral administration of P. bifermentans rescues conventional, clindamycin-treated mice from lethal C. difficile infection in a manner similar to that of monocolonized animals, thereby supporting the therapeutic potential of this commensal species. Our findings lay the foundation for mechanistically informed therapies to counter C. difficile disease using systems biology approaches to define host-commensal-pathogen interactions in vivo.
Area of Special Interest
Digestive Health
Specialty/Research Institute
Institute for Systems Biology
Specialty/Research Institute
Gastroenterology
