Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexander B. Smith, Matthew L. Jenior, Orlaith Keenan, Jessica L. Hart, Jonathan Specker, Arwa Abbas, Paula C. Rangel, Chao Di, Jamal Green, Katelyn A. Bustin, Jennifer A. Gaddy, Maribeth R. Nicholson, Clare Laut, Brendan J. Kelly, Megan L. Matthews, Daniel R. Evans, Daria Van Tyne, Emma E. Furth, Jason A. Papin, Frederic D. Bushman, Jessi Erlichman, Robert N. Baldassano, Michael A. Silverman, Gary M. Dunny, Boone M. Prentice, Eric P. Skaar, Joseph P. Zackular
Summary: Enterococci can shape the metabolic environment in the gut and enhance the fitness and pathogenesis of Clostridioides difficile through nutrient restriction and cross-feeding. This microbial interaction plays a role in the susceptibility to and the severity of C. difficile infection.
Article
Pediatrics
Ryan M. Hanson, Amy J. Wagner
Summary: Severe, complicated Clostridium difficile colitis is rare in pediatric patients and little is known about its medical and surgical management in this population. A case report of a 15-year-old female patient with severe, complicated C difficile colitis successfully treated with diverting loop ileostomy and colonic lavage is presented. This approach, instead of subtotal colectomy and end ileostomy, should be considered as an alternative for pediatric patients with severe, complicated C difficile colitis.
Article
Microbiology
Siqi Wang, Leyang Xiang, Fang li, Wenlin Deng, Pinjing Lv, Ye Chen
Summary: This study found that levels of fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly butyrate, are reduced, and normal colon structure is damaged in patients with CDI compared with those in healthy individuals. Bile acid (BA) metabolic disorder in patients with CDI is characterized by increased primary BA levels and decreased secondary BAs. Butyrate treatment may serve as a novel therapeutic approach for patients with CDI.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Ibrahim A. Al-Zahrani
Summary: Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection is a global threat to many healthcare settings. Excessive use of antimicrobials, lack of optimal antibiotic policies, and suboptimal infection control practices have fueled the development of this health issue. Prudent use of antimicrobials and simple infection control measures can significantly reduce infection rates.
SAUDI MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mao Hagihara, Tadashi Ariyoshi, Yasutoshi Kuroki, Shuhei Eguchi, Seiya Higashi, Takeshi Mori, Tsunemasa Nonogaki, Kenta Iwasaki, Makoto Yamashita, Nobuhiro Asai, Yusuke Koizumi, Kentaro Oka, Motomichi Takahashi, Yuka Yamagishi, Hiroshige Mikamo
Summary: CBM 588 enhances the antibacterial activity against C. difficile, reduces colon epithelial damage, and improves immunity through upregulating pathogen specific immunoglobulin A and enhancing gut epithelial barrier function to protect colon tissue from CDI.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marco Nardini, Alessandra Pesce, Martino Bolognesi
Summary: Truncated hemoglobins (trHbs) are a subclass of the globin family found in various organisms, including human pathogens. They have specific structural features and support different functions, such as detoxification, respiration, and oxygen sensing/storage.
MOLECULAR ASPECTS OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrea Piccioni, Federico Rosa, Federica Manca, Giulia Pignataro, Christian Zanza, Gabriele Savioli, Marcello Covino, Veronica Ojetti, Antonio Gasbarrini, Francesco Franceschi, Marcello Candelli
Summary: The composition of the human microbiome plays a crucial role in health, and alterations in the microbiota can lead to Clostridium difficile infection.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Meng Wang, Zifeng Deng, Yanmei Li, Yi Ma, Jufang Wang
Summary: A novel lytic protein Cw1-CWB2 with high binding specificity and strong lytic activity has been designed in this study for combating C. difficile.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ashleigh S. Paparella, Briana L. Aboulache, Rajesh K. Harijan, Kathryn S. Potts, Peter C. Tyler, Vern L. Schramm
Summary: Clostridium difficile produces toxins TcdA and TcdB causing diarrhea by affecting host cell functions using UDP-glucose, leading to disease onset. Researchers identified potential therapeutic approach using transition state analogue iminosugars.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Alexander B. Smith, Jonathan T. Specker, Katharine K. Hewlett, Troy R. Scoggins, Montana Knight, Abigail M. Lustig, Yanhong Li, Kirsten M. Evans, Yingchan Guo, Qianxuan She, Michael W. Christopher, Timothy J. Garrett, Ahmed M. Moustafa, Daria Van Tyne, Boone M. Prentice, Joseph P. Zackular, Kimberly A. Kline
Summary: Toxin production by Clostridioides difficile damages the colonic epithelium and leads to an inflammatory response. Enterococcus faecalis, an opportunistic pathogen, takes advantage of C. difficile toxin-mediated damage to acquire host heme for enhanced fitness. This study highlights the cooperative partnership between C. difficile and enterococci.
Article
Rehabilitation
Justin Weppner, Joelle Gabet, Mark Linsenmeyer, Mohamed Yassin, Gary Galang
Summary: The study found the presence of C difficile spores in an acute rehabilitation environment and showed that proper disinfection methods can effectively reduce the risk of infection. It is important to sporicidally disinfect surfaces such as beds and wheelchairs to decrease the rates of C difficile infection.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION
(2021)
Article
Surgery
Alexis Hess, Saskya Byerly, Emily Lenart, Cory Evans, Andrew Kerwin, Dina Filiberto
Summary: This study aimed to identify predictors of Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI) in general surgery patients. Patients who underwent general surgery operations were analyzed, and it was found that older age, emergent operation, increased time to operation, infections at surgical sites, deep organ space infections, steroid use, metastatic cancer, smoking, and decreased body mass index (BMI) were independent predictors of CDI.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Su-Chen Lim, Natasza M. R. Hain-Saunders, Korakrit Imwattana, Papanin Putsathit, Deirdre A. Collins, Thomas Riley
Summary: This study found a close relationship between environmental Clostridium difficile isolates and those from humans, possibly indicating an environmental transmission route. Toxigenic strains isolated from water sources were mainly of the 014/020 ribotype, with susceptibility to most antibiotics. High-resolution core-genome analysis revealed recent genetic relationships between human and water isolates.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Anqi Jin, Tony Chien, Qiwen Huang, Pragati Kenkare, Mai Vu, Sandra Wilson, Edward S. Huang
Summary: The study found that cholecystectomy is associated with a slightly increased risk of incident CDI, but this effect is not influenced by the use of proton pump inhibitors, antibiotics, or hospitalization.
DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Malin Inghammar, Henrik Svanstrom, Marianne Voldstedlund, Mads Melbye, Anders Hviid, Kare Molbak, Bjorn Pasternak
Summary: In a nationwide study among adults in Denmark, it was found that the use of PPIs is associated with a moderately increased risk of community-associated Clostridium difficile infection. The elevated risk remained up to 1 year after the end of PPI treatment.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Joshua Soto Ocana, Nile U. Bayard, Joseph P. Zackular
Summary: Clostridioides difficile is a leading cause of nosocomial infections worldwide and poses a significant public health threat. The factors influencing the epidemiology and clinical outcomes of CDI involve interactions between the host, microbiota, and C. difficile. Additionally, emerging data suggests that environmental factors, including diet and pharmaceutical drugs, play a role in CDI.
CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Andrew J. Monteith, Jeanette M. Miller, William N. Beavers, Lillian J. Juttukonda, Eric P. Skaar
Summary: Increased dietary manganese impairs neutrophil function in response to Staphylococcus aureus infection, leading to decreased bactericidal activity and increased susceptibility to infection.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Andrew J. Monteith, Jeanette M. Miller, William N. Beavers, K. Nichole Maloney, Erin L. Seifert, Gyorgy Hajnoczky, Eric P. Skaar
Summary: Research shows that neutrophils deficient in mitochondrial calcium uptake 1 (MICU1) enhance bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus through increased suicidal neutrophil extracellular trap (NETosis) during infection.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Andrew J. Monteith, Jeanette M. Miller, Jonathan M. Williams, Kelsey Voss, Jeffrey C. Rathmell, Leslie J. Crofford, Eric P. Skaar
Summary: This study demonstrates that the accumulation of intracellular S100A9 in neutrophils from SLE patients is associated with impaired mitochondrial homeostasis, leading to a decrease in bactericidal activity of these neutrophils.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Joseph Catania, Natasha G. Pandit, Julie M. Ehrlich, Muizz Zaman, Elizabeth Stone, Courtney Franceschi, Abigail Smith, Emily Tanner-Smith, Joseph P. Zackular, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Aamer Imdad
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of probiotics on growth outcomes in children aged 0-59 months. The findings suggest that probiotics may have a small effect on weight and height in children from low- and middle-income countries, but no significant effect in children from high-income countries.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Arianna I. Celis, Andres Aranda-Diaz, Rebecca Culver, Katherine Xue, David Relman, Handuo Shi, Kerwyn Casey Huang
Summary: In vitro culturing offers controlled conditions for studying microbial communities, but an optimized protocol for 16S rRNA sequencing and analysis is still lacking. This study evaluates protocol elements and introduces an effective spike-in for estimating absolute abundances in gut commensal communities.
Article
Microbiology
L. E. Redding, V. Tu, A. Abbas, M. Alvarez, J. P. Zackular, C. Gu, F. D. Bushman, D. J. Kelly, D. Barnhart, J. J. Lee, K. L. Bittinger
Summary: This study compared Clostridioides difficile isolates from humans, dogs, and cattle. The results showed that while most isolates clustered by host species, there were occasional co-clustering of canine and pediatric-derived isolates, suggesting the possibility of interspecies transmission. The study also found that animal-derived isolates carried a pool of antibiotic resistance genes, which could potentially appear in humans.
Article
Immunology
Benjamin D. Fowler, Nurgun Kose, Joseph X. Reidy, Laura S. Handal, Eric P. Skaar, James E. Crowe
Summary: Escherichia coli exposure or infection can lead to the production of specific antibodies. One specific antibody, ECOL-11, can induce bacterial aggregation and decrease adhesion and phagocytosis of E. coli by macrophage-like cells. However, antibody prophylaxis does not affect E. coli burden in a murine model.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Andy Weiss, Jessica K. Jackson, Lindsey N. Shaw, Eric P. Skaar
Summary: Characterization of transcriptional networks is crucial for understanding bacterial interactions with their environment. A novel high-throughput protocol for plasmid transduction in combination with a transposon mutant library enables rapid identification of regulatory elements in Staphylococcus aureus. This versatile strategy can be applied to other bacteria with plasmid transduction capabilities, making it an efficient tool for probing transcriptional regulatory connections.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hualiang Pi, Andy Weiss, Clare L. Laut, Caroline M. Grunenwald, Hannah K. Lin, Xinjie Yi, Devin L. Stauff, Eric P. Skaar
Summary: HitRS is a two-component system that responds to cell envelope damage in the human pathogen Bacillus anthracis. KrrA, an RNA-binding protein, regulates HitRS function by modulating the stability of the hitRS mRNA. KrrA also binds to over 70 RNAs and affects the expression of over 150 genes involved in multiple processes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
William N. Beavers, Matthew J. Munneke, Alex R. Stackhouse, Jeffrey A. Freiberg, Eric P. Skaar
Summary: Aminoglycoside antibiotics rely on the proton motive force to enter the bacterial cell. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) derived from the host increase the susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus to aminoglycosides, reducing the concentration of the drug needed to kill the bacteria.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jessica R. Sheldon, Lauren E. Himmel, Dillon E. Kunkle, Andrew J. Monteith, K. Nichole Maloney, Eric P. Skaar
Summary: Acinetobacter baumannii is a global health threat and understanding the host immune response is crucial for developing new treatments. The upregulation of lipocalin-2 (LCN2) during A. baumannii infection inhibits the iron-dependent growth of the pathogen and plays a protective role in controlling bacterial burdens during pneumonia. Modulating LCN2 expression or its structure may be a potential therapeutic avenue.
Article
Microbiology
Catherine S. Leasure, Caroline M. Grunenwald, Jacob E. Choby, John-Demian Sauer, Eric P. Skaar
Summary: Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen responsible for various infections, and understanding its metabolic homeostasis during infection is important due to increasing antibiotic resistance and lack of an effective vaccine. The regulation of heme synthesis, a cofactor necessary for enzymatic activities, is crucial for S. aureus. While previous studies have identified key residues involved in heme binding, this study reveals a new mechanism of heme synthesis regulation through phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of the enzyme GtrR by specific kinases and phosphatases. These findings highlight the integration of heme availability and cell growth status in staphylococcal heme synthesis.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joshua Soto Ocana, Nile U. Bayard, Jessica L. Hart, Audrey K. Thomas, Emma E. Furth, D. Borden Lacy, David M. Aronoff, Joseph P. Zackular
Summary: Clostridioides difficile damages the colonic mucosa through potent exotoxins. The factors contributing to C. difficile pathogenesis are not fully understood, but likely involve ecological, immune, and environmental factors. Recent studies have shown that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs exacerbate C. difficile infection, although the mechanism behind this is unclear.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Jennifer M. Noto, M. Blanca Piazuelo, Shailja C. Shah, Judith Romero-Gallo, Jessica L. Hart, Chao Di, James D. Carmichael, Alberto G. Delgado, Alese E. Halvorson, Robert A. Greevy, Lydia E. Wroblewski, Ayushi Sharma, Annabelle B. Newton, Margaret M. Allaman, Keith T. Wilson, M. Kay Washington, M. Wade Calcutt, Kevin L. Schey, Bethany P. Cummings, Charles R. Flynn, Joseph P. Zackular, Richard M. Peek
Summary: This study reveals that Helicobacter pylori enhances gastric injury under conditions of iron deficiency and that this phenomenon is closely associated with altered bile acid metabolism. Deoxycholic acid (DCA) is identified as a carcinogenic bile acid that can further exacerbate gastric injury and promote the translocation of the H. pylori oncoprotein CagA into host cells. Conversely, the use of bile acid sequestrants can attenuate H. pylori-induced injury. Furthermore, cumulative use of bile acid sequestrants is significantly associated with a reduced risk of gastric cancer in human populations. These findings demonstrate the importance of bile acid metabolism in H. pylori-induced gastric injury and carcinogenesis.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2022)