Clostridium difficile infection susceptibility is controlled by alterations to the gut microbiota before and after antibiotic exposure
Abstract
Clostridium difficile (Cdif) infections (CDI) cause devastating diarrheal disease. Small clinical trials have generated excitement for the use of fecal microbial transplants as a therapeutic option; however, the exact components of the microbiota needed for protection against CDI have remained elusive. C57Bl/6 mice from two vendors, Jackson (JAX) and Charles River (CRV), were exposed to antibiotics before gavage with Cdif spores. JAX mice developed severe CDI as evidenced by weight loss, histological damage, and increased pro-inflammatory cytokines, whereas CRV mice were resistant to CDI. There were significant differences in the gut microbiota between the mice, but CRV mice retained a high abundance of Parabacteroides after antibiotics. Following cohousing, JAX mice had less severe CDI and CRV mice had more severe CDI. Transfer of P. distasonis, a CRV commensal bacteria, was able to dampen effects of CDI in JAX mice. This study may lead to more targeted bacteriotherapy for the treatment and prevention of CDI.
Description
Keywords
Microbiology, Immunology
Citation
Schenck, L. P. (2014). Clostridium difficile infection susceptibility is controlled by alterations to the gut microbiota before and after antibiotic exposure (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/25337