The main symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are fever, cough, tiredness, and loss of smell and taste. Gastrointestinal symptoms are less common. A 38-year-old female patient, previously healthy, presented with a history of hematochezia up to 8 times per day, followed by abdominal cramps, urg …

Culture-independent metagenomic studies have revolutionized our understanding of the gut microbiota.Scientists present a substantially expanded Cultivated Genome Reference of the human gut microbiota with 179 previously unidentified species:https://t.co/teyjbpcQ8g— GutMicrobiota Health (@GMFHx) March 28, 2023

Traditional clinical models for predicting recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection do not perform well, likely owing to the complex host-pathogen interactions involved. Accurate risk stratification using novel biomarkers could help prevent recurrence by improving underutilization of effective t …

In conclusion, the CRISPR-based double toxin gene detection platform for C. difficile is an effective, specific, and sensitive detection method, which can be used as a powerful on-site detection tool for POCT in the future.

Industrialization has transformed the gut microbiota, reducing the prevalence of Prevotella relative to Bacteroides . Here, we isolate Bacteroides and Prevotella strains from the microbiota of Hadza hunter-gatherers of Tanzania, a population with high levels of Prevotella . We demonstrate that plant-derived microbiota-accessible carbohydrates (MACs) are required for persistence of Prevotella copri but not Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron in vivo . Differences in carbohydrate metabolism gene content, expression, and in vitro growth reveal that Hadza Prevotella strains specialize in degrading plant carbohydrates, while Hadza Bacteroides isolates use both plant and host-derived carbohydrates, a difference mirrored in Bacteroides from non-Hadza populations. When competing directly, P. copri requires plant-derived MACs to maintain colonization in the presence of B. thetaiotaomicron , as a no MAC diet eliminates P. copri colonization. Prevotella’s reliance on plant-derived MACs and Bacteroides’ ability to use host mucus carbohydrates could explain the reduced prevalence of Prevotella in populations consuming a low-MAC, industrialized diet. Statement on work with indigenous communities In order to acquire scientific knowledge that accurately represents all human populations, rather than only reflecting and benefiting those in industrialized nations, it is necessary to involve indigenous populations in research in a legal, ethical, and non-exploitative manner ([Abdill et al., 2022][1]; [Green et al., 2020][2]). Here, we isolated live bacterial strains from anonymized fecal samples collected from Hadza hunter-gatherers in 2013/2014 ([Fragiadakis et al., 2019][3]; [Merrill et al., 2022][4]; [Smits et al., 2017][5]). Samples were collected with permission from the Tanzanian government, National Institute of Medical Research (MR/53i 100/83, NIMR/HQ/R.8a/Vol.IX/1542), the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology, and with aid from Tanzanian scientists. A material transfer agreement with the National Institute for Medical Research in Tanzania specifies that collected samples are solely to be used for academic purposes. For more information on the consent practices followed, and our ongoing work to communicate the results of these projects to the Hadza, please see ([Merrill et al., 2022][4]; [Olm et al., 2022][6]). ### Competing Interest Statement J.L.S. is a co-founder, shareholder, and on the scientific advisory board of Novome Biotechnologies and Interface Biosciences. [1]: #ref-1 [2]: #ref-23 [3]: #ref-20 [4]: #ref-40 [5]: #ref-53 [6]: #ref-46

Antimicrobial resistance has caused chaos worldwide due to the depiction of multidrug-resistant (MDR) infective microorganisms. A thorough examination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes and associated resistant mechanisms is vital to solving this problem. Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is …

Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive opportunistic human pathogen that causes 15,000 deaths annually in the United States, prompting a need for vaccine development. In addition to the important toxins TcdA and TcdB, binary toxin (CDT) plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of certain C. …

Clostridioides difficile is a pathogen contributing to increased morbidity and mortality of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). To determine how C. difficile affects the severity of colitis, we constructed a dextran sulfate solution-induced colitis model challenged with …

A bile salt analog prevented Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in mice, pointing to a potential way to minimize the impact of a bacterium that kills 20,000 people a year.

A Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is one of the major nosocomial diarrheal diseases. Pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) is a characteristic endoscopic finding of CDI, manifested by white or yellowish plaque covering the colonic mucosa. Ischemic colitis is inflammation of the colon manife …

In this small exploratory analysis, ICH status did not significantly impact blood and fecal patterns of cytokines in humans at the diagnosis of CDI, suggesting that the innate immune response to C difficile may be conserved in immunocompromised patients.

How do commensal gut microbes resist #Cdiff colonization? #GITwitter #IDTwitter #guthealth pic.twitter.com/7yHJrlfFWK— Microbiome Science (@MbiomeScience) March 22, 2023

DNA replication is an essential and conserved process in all domains of life and may serve as a target for the development of new antimicrobials. However, such developments are hindered by subtle mechanistic differences and limited understanding of DNA ...

The composition of the intestinal bacterial community is well described, but recent research suggests that the metabolism of these bacteria plays a larger role in health than which species are pres...

If you were to name the 3 most important recent advances in gastroenterology that are relevant for everyday practice, what would they be?

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a threat to global public health. However, unsatisfactory approaches to directly measuring the AMR burden carried by individuals has hampered efforts to assess interventions aimed at reducing selection for AMR. Metagenomics can provide accurate detection and quantif …

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease, leading to fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and also associated with increased cardiovascular disease mortality. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is not fully understood, although NAFLD is thought to be a hep …

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a threat to global public health. However, unsatisfactory approaches to directly measuring the AMR burden carried by individuals has hampered efforts to assess interventions aimed at reducing selection for AMR. Metagenomics can provide accurate detection and quantif …

The investigators found the risk of hospital-acquired Clostridioides difficile (CDI) infection increased when a hospital switched to serving only coronavirus disease 2019 patients.

Gut enzymes within a class known as bile salt hydrolases can restrict Clostridioides difficile.

🌟#MayoMGR today with @Khanna_S:"Managing Clostridioides difficile: Microbes Outsmart a Superbug"👉When referring for #FMT, prescribe enough Abx until specialist appt.@Dr_Vijay_Shah @DarrellPardi @MayoClinicGIHep#Cdiff #Microbes #IDTwitter #GITwitter #PharmTwitter #MedTwitter pic.twitter.com/i4CKiUbggL— Meltiady Issa, MD, MBA (@MeltiadyIssa) March 16, 2023

It has recently become evident that the bacterial stringent response is regulated by a triphosphate alarmone (pGpp) as well as the canonical tetra- and pentaphosphate alarmones ppGpp and pppGpp [together, (p)ppGpp]. Often dismissed in the past as an artifact or degradation product, pGpp has been con …

Bile acids (BAs) mediate the crosstalk between human and microbial cells and influence diseases including Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). While bile salt hydrolases (BSHs) shape the BA pool by deconjugating conjugated BAs, the basis for their substrate selectivity and impact on C. difficil …

Sorbitol and sorbitol utilization in the infecting C. difficile strain play major roles for the pathogenesis and epidemiology of CDI in IBD patients. CDI in IBD patients may thus be avoided or improved by elimination of dietary sorbitol or suppression of host-derived sorbitol production.

Investigators see a potential new approach to therapeutic development for C diff.

Neutropenia, male gender, high serum creatinine, and albumin were all associated with fatal outcomes.

Overall, this study demonstrates that the binding component of C difficile binary toxin, CDTb, contributes to virulence in a hamster model of infection.

The findings identify methods to better prevent and treat C.difficle, the most common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs).

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a widespread gastrointestinal inflammatory disorder with globally increasing incidence. Clostridioides difficile i…

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), two of the founding institutions of Mass General Brigham, have discovered the metabolic mechanisms Clostridioides difficile uses to quickly invade the gut.