biostudies-literatureEngevik MANational Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesNIDDK NIH HHSNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNIAID NIH HHS1301-1314.e8https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7956072biostudies-literatureUnknown160(4)<h4>Background & aims</h4>Although Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is known to involve the disruption of the gut microbiota, little is understood regarding how mucus-associated microbes interact with C difficile. We hypothesized that select mucus-associated bacteria would promote C difficile colonization and biofilm formation.<h4>Methods</h4>To create a model of the human intestinal mucus layer and gut microbiota, we used bioreactors inoculated with healthy human feces, treated with clindamycin and infected with C difficile with the addition of human MUC2-coated coverslips.<h4>Results</h4>C difficile was found to colonize and form biofilms on MUC2-coated coverslips, and 16S rRNA sequencing showed a unique biofilm profile with substantial cocolonization with Fusobacterium species. GastroenterologyFusobacteriumnucleatum Adheres to Clostridioides difficile via the RadD Adhesin to Enhance Biofilm Formation in Intestinal Mucus.PMC7956072K01 DK123195F32 AI136404P30 DK056338R01 AI123278U01 AI124290P30 DK123704Britton RAVersalovic JAuchtung JEndres BTNicholson MLux RWu QYacyshyn BEngevik ACLuna RASavidge TRuan WCrawford SEEngevik MAYacyshyn MBEstes MKDanhof HABasseres EGarey KWfalseFusobacteriumnucleatum Adheres to Clostridioides difficile via the RadD Adhesin to Enhance Biofilm Formation in Intestinal Mucus.<h4>Background & aims</h4>Although Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is known to involve the disruption of the gut microbiota, little is understood regarding how mucus-associated microbes interact with C difficile. We hypothesized that select mucus-associated bacteria would promote C difficile colonization and biofilm formation.<h4>Methods</h4>To create a model of the human intestinal mucus layer and gut microbiota, we used bioreactors inoculated with healthy human feces, treated with clindamycin and infected with C difficile with the addition of human MUC2-coated coverslips.<h4>Results</h4>C difficile was found to colonize and form biofilms on MUC2-coated coverslips, and 16S rRNA sequencing showed a unique biofilm profile with substantial cocolonization with Fusobacterium species. 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Mar2025-04-22T01:46:18.849Z2025-04-05T20:06:02.646ZS-EPMC79560723322727910.1053/j.gastro.2020.11.034