Coumarin Glycosides Reverse Enterococci-Facilitated Enteric Infections.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Commensal enterococci can exacerbate polymicrobial infections by promoting pathogen growth.
• Effective therapeutic strategies for enterococci-mediated infections are limited.
• Enterococci facilitate the growth and pathogenicity of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium (S. Tm).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of dietary coumarin glycosides in counteracting enterococci-facilitated S. Tm infections.
• To elucidate the mechanism by which coumarin glycosides inhibit S. Tm growth in the presence of enterococci.

Main Methods:

• In vivo studies using a mouse model of S. Tm infection.
• Analysis of enterococci's enzymatic activity (β-glucosidases) on coumarin glycosides.
• Assessment of iron levels and S. Tm growth in response to coumarin glycoside treatment.

Main Results:

• High-density enterococci promote S. Tm expansion and pathogenicity.
• Dietary coumarin glycosides effectively counteract enterococci's role in S. Tm infections.
• Enterococci hydrolyze coumarin glycosides, producing aglycones that inhibit S. Tm growth by inducing iron limitation.
• Coumarin glycosides ameliorate S. Tm-induced symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Dietary coumarin glycosides represent a viable intervention against enterococci-facilitated enteric infections.
• This study highlights a novel mechanism involving iron limitation to combat polymicrobial infections.
• Coumarin glycosides offer a promising alternative therapeutic strategy for managing complex infections.