The interplay between host immunity and Clostridioides difficile infection

ABSTRACT Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a major public health concern and the leading cause of healthcare-associated infectious enteric inflammation worldwide. Disruption of the gut microbiome predisposes to C. difficile colonization, proliferation, and production of cytotoxic toxins th...

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Main Authors: Danyang Li, Pedro H. V. Saavedra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2025-08-01
Series:mBio
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.03562-24
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author Danyang Li
Pedro H. V. Saavedra
author_facet Danyang Li
Pedro H. V. Saavedra
author_sort Danyang Li
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a major public health concern and the leading cause of healthcare-associated infectious enteric inflammation worldwide. Disruption of the gut microbiome predisposes to C. difficile colonization, proliferation, and production of cytotoxic toxins that damage the intestinal epithelial layer. CDI treatment is challenging in part due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains and the lack of efficient vaccines, predisposing individuals to recurrent CDI episodes. Consequently, there is an urgent need for the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Both innate and adaptive immune responses contribute to protection against CDI, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this process are not completely understood. In this mini review, I discuss the history and recent findings with a focus on mechanisms that drive host immunity to C. difficile, with a conclusion on where the field stands and outstanding questions that remain elusive.
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spelling doaj-art-0c91994907b24b3dbf6cd9d74780f3662025-08-20T03:02:56ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologymBio2150-75112025-08-0116810.1128/mbio.03562-24The interplay between host immunity and Clostridioides difficile infectionDanyang Li0Pedro H. V. Saavedra1Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USADepartment of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USAABSTRACT Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a major public health concern and the leading cause of healthcare-associated infectious enteric inflammation worldwide. Disruption of the gut microbiome predisposes to C. difficile colonization, proliferation, and production of cytotoxic toxins that damage the intestinal epithelial layer. CDI treatment is challenging in part due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains and the lack of efficient vaccines, predisposing individuals to recurrent CDI episodes. Consequently, there is an urgent need for the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Both innate and adaptive immune responses contribute to protection against CDI, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this process are not completely understood. In this mini review, I discuss the history and recent findings with a focus on mechanisms that drive host immunity to C. difficile, with a conclusion on where the field stands and outstanding questions that remain elusive.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.03562-24Clostridioides difficilehost immunityhost-pathogen interactionsmicrobiotainfectious disease
spellingShingle Danyang Li
Pedro H. V. Saavedra
The interplay between host immunity and Clostridioides difficile infection
mBio
Clostridioides difficile
host immunity
host-pathogen interactions
microbiota
infectious disease
title The interplay between host immunity and Clostridioides difficile infection
title_full The interplay between host immunity and Clostridioides difficile infection
title_fullStr The interplay between host immunity and Clostridioides difficile infection
title_full_unstemmed The interplay between host immunity and Clostridioides difficile infection
title_short The interplay between host immunity and Clostridioides difficile infection
title_sort interplay between host immunity and clostridioides difficile infection
topic Clostridioides difficile
host immunity
host-pathogen interactions
microbiota
infectious disease
url https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.03562-24
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