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Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291
Published on: December 10, 2016
Balancing act of cytokines in controlling the severity of Clostridioides difficile infection
Kevin S Mears1, Michael C Abt1,2
1Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Abstract:
The severity of Clostridioides difficile infection is dictated by a complex interplay of various host cell types and inflammatory mediators responding to the pathogen and surrounding microbiome. An effective immune response must carefully balance controlling C. difficile-mediated pathology and systemic dissemination of opportunistic bacteria while avoiding collateral immunopathology. In addition, a successful immune response must also promote restorative mechanisms to repair toxin-induced disruptions to the intestinal barrier. Here, we review the immune response to C. difficile infection with a specific focus on the role of innate immune-induced cytokines.
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