The role of gut fungi in Clostridioides difficile infection

Lamei Wang; Yangchun Cao; Eddie Lou; Xuanyin Zhao; Xinhua Chen

doi:10.1016/j.bj.2023.100686

The role of gut fungi in Clostridioides difficile infection

Biomed J. 2023 Dec 10:100686. doi: 10.1016/j.bj.2023.100686. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Lamei Wang¹, Yangchun Cao², Eddie Lou³, Xuanyin Zhao³, Xinhua Chen⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
² College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: caoyangchun@126.com.
³ Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
⁴ Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: xchen1@bidmc.harvard.edu.

PMID: 38086471
DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2023.100686

Abstract

Clostridioides difficile, the etiological agent of C. difficile infection (CDI), elicits a spectrum of diarrheal symptoms with varying severity and the potential to result in severe complications such as colonic perforation, pseudomembranous colitis, and toxic megacolon. The perturbation of gut microbiome, often triggered by antibiotic usage, represents the primary factor augmenting the risk of CDI. This underscores the significance of interactions between C. difficile and the microbiome in determining pathogen adaptability. In recent years, researchers have increasingly recognized the pivotal role played by intestinal microbiota in host health and its therapeutic potential as a target for medical interventions. While extensive evidence has been established regarding the involvement of gut bacteria in CDI, our understanding of symbiotic interactions between hosts and fungi within intestinal microbiota remains limited. Herein, we aim to comprehensively elucidate both composition and key characteristics of gut fungal communities that significantly contribute to CDI, thereby enhancing our comprehension from pharmacological and biomarker perspectives while exploring their prospective therapeutic applications for CDI.

Keywords: C. difficile; Fungi; Infection.