Probing Clostridium difficile Infection in Complex Human Gut Cellular Models.

ABSTRACT: Interactions of anaerobic gut bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile, with the intestinal mucosa have been poorly studied due to challenges in culturing anaerobes with the oxygen-requiring gut epithelium. Although gut colonization by C. difficile is a key determinant of disease outcome, precise mechanisms of mucosal attachment and spread remain unclear. Here, using human gut epithelial monolayers co-cultured within dual environment chambers, we demonstrate that C. difficile adhesion to gut epithelial cells is accompanied by a gradual increase in bacterial numbers. Prolonged infection causes redistribution of actin and loss of epithelial integrity, accompanied by production of C. difficile spores, toxins, and bacterial filaments. This system was used to examine

SUBMITTER: Anonye BO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6503005 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature