Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026
Author Spotlight: Enhancing Candida albicans Detection in Catheter Infections Using Fluorescent Protein Tagging
Published on: March 22, 2024
Pre-colonization with the commensal fungus Candida albicans reduces murine susceptibility to Clostridium difficile
Laura Markey1, Lamyaa Shaban1, Erin R Green1
1a Graduate Program in Molecular Microbiology, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences and Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology , Tufts University , Boston , MA.
Abstract:
Clostridium difficile is a major nosocomial pathogen responsible for close to half a million infections and 27,000 deaths annually in the U.S. Preceding antibiotic treatment is a major risk factor for C. difficile infection (CDI) leading to recognition that commensal microbes play a key role in resistance to CDI. Current antibiotic treatment of CDI is only partially successful due to a high rate of relapse. As a result, there is interest in understanding the effects of microbes on CDI susceptibility to support treatment of patients with probiotic microbes or entire microbial communities (e.g., fecal microbiota transplantation). The results reported here demonstrate that colonization with the human commensal fungus Candida albicans protects against lethal CDI in a murine model. Colonization with C. albicans did not increase the colonization resistance of the host. Rather, our findings showed that one effect of C. albicans colonization was to enhance a protective immune response. Mice pre-colonized with C. albicans expressed higher levels of IL-17A in infected tissue following C. difficile challenge compared to mice that were not colonized with C. albicans. Administration of cytokine IL-17A was demonstrated to be protective against lethal murine CDI in mice not colonized with C. albicans. C. albicans colonization was associated with changes in the abundance of some bacterial components of the gut microbiota. Therefore, C. albicans colonization altered the gut ecosystem, enhancing survival after C. difficile challenge. These findings demonstrate a new, beneficial role for C. albicans gut colonization.
Insights
The fungus Candida albicans protects against Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) by enhancing the immune response, not by increasing colonization resistance. This suggests a beneficial role for C. albicans in preventing CDI.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a significant healthcare-associated pathogen with high annual incidence and mortality in the U.S.
- Antibiotic use is a primary risk factor for CDI, highlighting the protective role of commensal microbes.
- Current CDI treatments have limited success due to high relapse rates, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of commensal gut microbes on susceptibility to Clostridium difficile infection (CDI).
- To explore the potential of probiotic interventions, such as fungal colonization, for CDI treatment and prevention.
Main Methods:
- A murine model was used to assess the protective effects of Candida albicans colonization against lethal CDI.
- Immune responses, specifically Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) levels, were measured in infected tissues.
- Changes in the gut microbiota composition following C. albicans colonization were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Candida albicans colonization protected mice against lethal CDI without enhancing general colonization resistance.
- C. albicans colonization led to increased IL-17A levels in infected tissues upon C. difficile challenge.
- Administration of IL-17A alone conferred protection against lethal CDI in non-colonized mice.
- C. albicans colonization altered the gut microbiota composition.
Conclusions:
- Candida albicans colonization enhances host immune responses, specifically IL-17A production, conferring protection against C. difficile infection.
- C. albicans colonization modifies the gut ecosystem, contributing to improved survival after C. difficile challenge.
- These findings reveal a novel beneficial role for gut colonization by Candida albicans in combating CDI.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:22The Colonization of Land
02:01pre-mRNA Processing
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a “cap” to the 5’ end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5’ phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached to it (7-Methyl...
01:31Magnetic Susceptibility and Permeability
When diamagnetic materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Hence, the susceptibility for diamagnets has a minimal negative value of 10-5–10-6. Since...
01:35Pre-mRNA Processing: Modification of pre-mRNA Ends
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a cap to the 5' end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5' phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached (7-methyl guanosine). This 5' cap helps...
01:18Reducing Line Loss
With a step-up transformer at the source, the voltage is increased, thereby reducing the current in the transmission lines since power loss in...
01:26Susceptibility, Permittivity and Dielectric Constant