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Updated: Oct 30, 2025
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The Citrobacter rodentium Mouse Model: Studying Pathogen and Host Contributions to Infectious Colitis
Published on: February 19, 2013
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Citrobacter rodentium infection at the gut-brain axis interface
Fernando H Martins1, Santiago Cuesta1
1Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
Current Opinion in Microbiology
|July 4, 2021
Summary
This review explores how gut bacteria like Citrobacter rodentium interact with the gut-brain axis. It details pathogen sensing of neurochemicals and impacts on brain function and behavior.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Neuroscience
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- The gut-brain axis is vital for gastrointestinal homeostasis.
- Enteric pathogens can sense neurochemicals to modulate virulence.
- Gut dysbiosis significantly impacts host brain function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review mechanisms of gut-brain axis communication.
- To highlight pathways used by Citrobacter rodentium to sense neurochemicals.
- To examine pathogen-induced behavioral and brain changes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of host-microbe interactions.
- Analysis of studies on Citrobacter rodentium.
- Examination of neurochemical sensing pathways.
Main Results:
- Citrobacter rodentium utilizes specific pathways to sense host neurochemicals.
- Pathogen colonization affects host behavior and brain pathologies.
- Gut-brain communication involves complex microbial and host interactions.
Conclusions:
- Citrobacter rodentium serves as a model for understanding gut-brain axis communication.
- Microbial sensing of neurochemicals is a key virulence strategy.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate these complex interactions.
