Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
11:13
Culturing and Maintaining Clostridium difficile in an Anaerobic Environment
Published on: September 14, 2013
Acidification-dependent suppression of C. difficile by pathogenic and commensal enterococci
Holly R Neubauer1, Ibukun M Ogunyemi1, Alicia K Wood1
1Binghamton Biofilm Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, SUNY, Binghamton, New York, USA.
Infection and Immunity
|May 13, 2026
Summary
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) produces acid from certain sugars, inhibiting Clostridioides difficile growth in lab settings. This VRE-mediated acidification shows potential for controlling C. difficile infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Medical Science
- Biofilm Research
Background:
- Clostridioides difficile and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) are frequently isolated together from patients.
- Antibiotic use can lead to VRE colonization, increasing susceptibility to C. difficile infection.
- Understanding pathogen interactions is crucial for managing hospital-acquired infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a co-culture biofilm model to study interactions between C. difficile and VRE.
- To investigate the role of VRE in suppressing C. difficile growth.
- To explore the potential of dietary sugar supplementation to control C. difficile in VRE-colonized hosts.
Main Methods:
- Co-culture of C. difficile and VRE in biofilm-promoting media with various carbon sources (glucose, fructose, trehalose).
- Measurement of pH changes and pathogen growth inhibition in vitro.
- Testing the effect of dietary fructose supplementation on VRE-colonized mice challenged with C. difficile.
Main Results:
- VRE produced acid from specific sugars, lowering pH and inhibiting C. difficile growth in vitro.
- This VRE-mediated acidification was necessary and sufficient to suppress C. difficile in liquid and cecal content models.
- Dietary fructose supplementation in mice did not lower gut pH or prevent C. difficile colonization.
Conclusions:
- VRE suppresses C. difficile growth via carbon source-dependent organic acid production in vitro.
- The mammalian gut environment may require more complex strategies than simple sugar supplementation to therapeutically lower pH.
- Targeting VRE's metabolic activity presents a potential avenue for controlling C. difficile co-infections.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine
The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract is characterized by distinct physicochemical conditions that shape its microbial communities. Among these, the stomach presents a particularly challenging environment for microbial colonization due to its highly acidic pH, ranging from 1 to 3. This extreme acidity effectively limits microbial density. However, certain acid-tolerant microorganisms are capable of surviving in this niche. Notably, Helicobacter pylori can colonize the gastric mucosa,...
01:18Bacterial Gastroenteritis
Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...
01:28Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
01:12Bacterial Toxins
Bacterial toxins are sophisticated virulence factors that enable pathogenic bacteria to interact with, invade, and damage host tissues. These toxins fall broadly into two types: protein exotoxins, which are secreted into the environment and target specific host receptors, and lipopolysaccharide endotoxins, which are structural components of the bacterial outer membrane released primarily during bacterial lysis or membrane shedding. Exotoxins generally act more selectively, binding to cell...
01:28Biological Methods for Microbial Control
Biological agents offer an effective means of controlling microbial growth by leveraging natural processes like predation, competition, and the secretion of antimicrobial substances.Predatory bacteria such as Bdellovibrio species target and kill pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. They are widely used in poultry farms to control infections. Myxococcus species help combat plant-pathogenic fungi. These naturally occurring predators serve as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides and...
01:18Surface Membrane Barriers
The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...