Using a ligate intestinal loop mouse model to investigate Clostridioides difficile adherence to the intestinal mucosa in aged mice

PLoS One. 2021 Dec 22;16(12):e0261081. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261081. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Interaction of Clostridioides difficile spores with the intestinal mucosa contributes to the persistence and recurrence of the infection. Advanced age is one of the main risk factors for C. difficile infection and recurrence of the disease. However, interaction of C. difficile spores with the intestinal mucosa during aging has not been evaluated. In the present work, using intestinal ligated loop technique in a mouse model, we analyzed C. difficile spore adherence and internalization to the ileum and colonic mucosa during aging. Additionally, we provide visual documentation of the critical steps of the procedure. Consequently, our data suggest that spore internalization in the ileum and colonic mucosa is higher in elderly mice rather than adults or young mice. Also, our data suggest that spore adherence to the ileum and colonic mucosa decreases with aging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging*
  • Animals
  • Attachment Sites, Microbiological
  • Bacterial Adhesion*
  • Clostridioides difficile / physiology*
  • Clostridium Infections / microbiology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Intestinal Mucosa / microbiology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Spores, Bacterial / physiology

Grants and funding

This work was funded by FONDECYT Regular 1191601, 1151025, and by Millennium Science Initiative Program - NCN17_093, and Startup funds from the Department of Biology at Texas A&M University to DPS. And ANID-PCHA/Doctorado Nacional/2016-21161395 to PCC. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.