C. Diff Coordinates Survival Strategy in Gut
Vanderbilt Health researchers have identified a mechanism used by the pathogen C. diff to sense and survive environmental stressors in the gut. This discovery may lead to new antimicrobial treatments for hospital-acquired infections.
Why it matters
C. diff is a major public health concern, and understanding its survival strategies is essential for developing effective new therapies.
The pathogen Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) - a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections - must contend with a variety of threats inside the harsh environment of the gut to survive and grow.
Researchers at Vanderbilt Health have now discovered a unique system C. diff uses to simultaneously sense and respond to two different threats: host-mediated nutrient deprivation and a microbiota-produced antibiotic compound. Their findings, published Sept. 8 in Science Signaling , suggest new therapeutic options for preventing and treating C. diff infections.
C. diff causes diarrhea and colitis (inflammation of the colon). There are about half a million C. diff infections in the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People taking antibiotics; those who have had a recent hospitalization or live in a health care facility; and adults over 65 are most at risk for C. diff infection, for which there are limited treatments.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in