Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) is a leading cause of diarrhea and healthcare-associated infections in the United States and recognized as an urgent threat by the Centers for Disease Control. Virulence of C. diff infections is believed to rely primarily on the production of two toxins: TcdA and TcdB. TcdA and TcdB are large homologous proteins...
A commensal protozoan attenuates Clostridioides difficile pathogenesis in mice via arginine-ornithine metabolism and host intestinal immune response
Nature Communications - Faecal microbiome transplant has been shown to be able to reduce Clostridioides difficile infection. Here the authors show that an intestinal commensal protozoan reduces C....
Multifunctional host-defense peptides isolated from skin secretions of the banana tree dwelling frog Boana platanera (Hylidae; Hylinae) - PubMed
Five host-defense peptides (figainin 2PL, hylin PL, raniseptin PL, plasticin PL, and peptide YL) were isolated from norepinephrine-stimulated skin secretions of the banana tree dwelling frog Boana platanera (Hylidae; Hylinae) collected in Trinidad. Raniseptin PL (GVFDTVKKIGKAVGKFALGVAKNYLNS.NH2 …
The impact of existing total anti-toxin B IgG immunity in outcomes of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection - PubMed
Late anti-toxin-B humoral immunity acquired after treatment is important for preventing recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection. We prospectively-measured anti-toxin-B IgG and neutralization titers at diagnosis as potential early predictors of recurrence. High anti-toxin-B-IgG/neutralizing anti …
Approaching toxigenic Clostridia from a one health perspective - PubMed
Spore-forming pathogens have a unique capacity to thrive in diverse environments, and with temporal persistence afforded through their ability to sporulate. Their prevalence in diverse ecosystems requires a One Health approach to identify critical reservoirs and outbreak-associated transmission chai …
Antibiotics and reflux drugs, when combined, linked to increased C diff risk
In a population-based study, patients recently exposed to antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors had an 18-fold increase in the risk of C diff infection.
Cefepime Versus Piperacillin-Tazobactam for the Treatment of Intra-Abdominal Infections Secondary to Potential AmpC Beta-Lactamase-Producing Organisms - PubMed
Background: Recent studies have established cefepime as an effective treatment option for AmpC beta-lactamase (AmpC) Enterobacterales; however, the efficacy of beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitors is unclear. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if piperacillintazob …
Identification of a new family of peptidoglycan transpeptidases reveals atypical crosslinking is essential for viability in Clostridioides difficile - PubMed
Clostridioides difficile , the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, relies primarily on 3-3 crosslinks created by L,D-transpeptidases (LDTs) to fortify its peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall. This is unusual, as in most bacteria the vast majority of PG crosslinks are 4-3 crosslinks, whi …
Incidence, Clinical Characteristics, and Outcome of Clostridium difficile Infection in a Tertiary Care Center in Bahrain
Background Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) represents a significant healthcare challenge associated with antibiotic use and healthcare settings. While healthcare facility-onset CDI (...
Clinical Efficacy of Therapeutic Agents for Clostridioides difficile Infection Based on Four Severity Classifications - PubMed
The Japanese guidelines for the management of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) recommend metronidazole (MNZ) for non-severe cases and vancomycin (VCM) for severe cases. Here, we investigated the use of CDI antimicrobials and evaluated their clinical efficacy in four severity classifications …
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Repairs Radiation Enteritis Through Modulating the Gut Microbiota-Mediated Tryptophan Metabolism - PubMed
Radiation enteritis is a common complication of abdominal and pelvic radiotherapy. Several previous studies showed that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) could alleviate radiation enteritis. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of FMT in alleviating radiation enteritis and explored the m …
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Could Be the Answer to the Global Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance
Scientists hypothesize that fecal microbiota transplant restores the recipient’s gut microbiota to an environment that mimics the healthy donor’s microbiota
Microplastics dampen the self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells by disrupting the gut microbiota-hypoxanthine-Wnt axis - PubMed
Microplastics (MPs) are contaminants ubiquitously found in the global biosphere that enter the body through inhalation or ingestion, posing significant risks to human health. Recent studies emerge that MPs are present in the bone marrow and damage the hematopoietic system. However, it remains largel …
Microbiome bacterial influencers of host immunity and response to immunotherapy - PubMed
The gut microbiota influences anti-tumor immunity and can induce or inhibit response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Therefore, microbiome features are being studied as predictive/prognostic biomarkers of patient response to ICIs, and microbiome-based interventions are attractive adjuvant tr …
Ginsenoside Rg5 Activates the LKB1/AMPK/mTOR Signaling Pathway and Modifies the Gut Microbiota to Alleviate Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Induced by a High-Fat Diet - PubMed
The primary objective of this investigation was to elucidate the manner in which ginsenoside Rg5 (Rg5) ameliorates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) via the modulation of the gut microbiota milieu. We administered either a standard diet (ND) or a high-fat diet (HFD), cou …
Antimicrobial effects of cannabidiol on select agriculturally important Clostridia - PubMed
Amino acid-fermenting Clostridia have undesirable effects in agricultural systems, which can be mitigated by antibiotics, but resistance necessitates alternatives. Here, we demonstrate the efficacy of cannabidiol on growth and ammonia inhibition of five agriculturally relevant Clostridia: Clostridiu …
Epidemiological and clinical burden of Clostridioides difficile infections and recurrences between 2015 - 2019: the RECUR Germany study - PubMed
CDI remains a public health concern in Germany despite a decline in the incidence over recent years. A substantial proportion of CDI patients experience rCDIs, which increase the risk of severe clinical complications. The results highlight an increasing need of improved therapeutic management of CDI …
Gut Microbiome-Colorectal Cancer Relationship - PubMed
Traditionally, the role of gut dysbiosis was thought to be limited to pathologies like Clostridioides difficile infection, but studies have shown its role in other intestinal and extraintestinal pathologies. Similarly, recent studies have surfaced showing the strong potential role of the gut …
Assessment of Faecal Microbiota Transplant Stability in Deep-Freeze Conditions: A 12-Month Ex Vivo Viability Analysis - PubMed
The study confirmed that faecal microbiota can be preserved with high viability in deep-freeze storage for up to a year, making allogenic FMT from biobanked samples a viable and safer option for patients. However, a multidonor approach may be beneficial to mitigate the risk of viability loss in any …
Research reviews and prospects of gut microbiota in liver cirrhosis: a bibliometric analysis (2001-2023) - PubMed
This study offering a comprehensive insight into the research dynamics surrounding gut microbiota in patients with liver cirrhosis. It delineates the current research frontiers and hotspots, serving as a valuable guide for scholars.
Neonatal Calf Diarrhea and Gastrointestinal Microbiota: Etiologic Agents and Microbiota Manipulation for Treatment and Prevention of Diarrhea - PubMed
Neonatal calf diarrhea is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality globally. The changes associated with the gastrointestinal microbiota in neonatal calves experiencing diarrhea and its etiology are not fully understood or completely defined in the literature. Several studies have demon …
The epidemiology and management of Clostridioides difficile infection-A clinical update - PubMed
Although the prevalence of C. difficile infection remains high, there have been significant advances in the development of novel therapeutics and preventative measures following changes in recent practice guidelines, and will continue to evolve in the future.
CDC's Hospital-Onset Clostridioides difficile Prevention Framework in a Regional Hospital Network - PubMed
In this quality improvement study of a regional hospital network, implementation of the Framework was not temporally associated with declining HO-CDI incidence. Further study of the effectiveness of multimodal prevention measures for controlling HO-CDI is warranted.
Epidemiological and clinical burden of Clostridioides difficile infections and recurrences between 2015 − 2019: the RECUR Germany study - BMC Infectious Diseases
Background This real-world study assessed the epidemiology and clinical complications of Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) and recurrences (rCDIs) in hospital and community settings in Germany from 2015 − 2019. Methods An observational retrospective cohort study was conducted among adult patients diagnosed with CDI in hospital and community settings using statutory health insurance claims data from the BKK database. A cross-sectional approach was used to estimate the annual incidence rate of CDI and rCDI episodes per 100,000 insurants. Patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics were described at the time of first CDI episode. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the time to rCDIs and time to complications (colonic perforation, colectomy, loop ileostomy, toxic megacolon, ulcerative colitis, peritonitis, and sepsis). A Cox model was used to assess the risk of developing complications, with the number of rCDIs as a time-dependent covariate. Results A total of 15,402 CDI episodes were recorded among 11,884 patients. The overall incidence of CDI episodes declined by 38% from 2015 to 2019. Most patients (77%) were aged ≥ 65 years. Around 19% of CDI patients experienced at least one rCDI. The median time between index CDI episode to a rCDI was 20 days. The most frequent complication within 12-months of follow-up after the index CDI episode was sepsis (7.57%), followed by colectomy (3.20%). The rate of complications increased with the number of rCDIs. The risk of any complication increased by 31% with each subsequent rCDI (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.31, 95% confidence interval: 1.17;1.46). Conclusions CDI remains a public health concern in Germany despite a decline in the incidence over recent years. A substantial proportion of CDI patients experience rCDIs, which increase the risk of severe clinical complications. The results highlight an increasing need of improved therapeutic management of CDI, particularly efforts to prevent rCDI.
Induction of autism-related behavior in male mice by early-life vitamin D deficiency: association with disruption of the gut microbial composition and homeostasis - PubMed
Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) during early life emerges as a potential risk factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Individuals with autism commonly exhibit lower vitamin D (VD) levels compared to the general population, and VD deficiency is prevalent during pregnancy and lactation. Moreover, gastro …
Transplant of microbiota from Crohn's disease patients to germ-free mice results in colitis - PubMed
Although the role of the intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is beyond debate, attempts to verify the causative role of IBD-associated dysbiosis have been limited to reports of promoting the disease in genetically susceptible mice or in chemically induced co …
Profiling the colonic mucosal response to fecal microbiota transplantation identifies a role for GBP5 in colitis in humans and mice - PubMed
Host molecular responses to fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in ulcerative colitis are not well understood. Here, we profile the human colonic mucosal transcriptome prior to and following FMT or placebo to identify molecules regulated during disease remission. FMT alters the transcriptome abov …
The gut microbiome from middle-aged women with depression modulates depressive-like behaviors and plasma fatty acid metabolism in female middle-aged mice - PubMed
These findings suggest that microbial dysbiosis is linked to the pathogenesis of MAD, and its role may be associated with the regulation of MLCFAs metabolism.