Nature: Potentially deadly infections lurk dangerous allies in our gut

Clostridium difficile (Clostridioides difficile) is often referred to as C.
difficile difficile or C.
difficile diff, a bacterium that causes serious intestinal disease, which, as its name suggests, is difficult to study and its infections difficult to treat; About one in six infected individuals will relapse within two months, but scientists have not yet shed light on why Clostridium difficile infections are so difficult to treat in others compared to
some people.
The human gut is filled with trillions of microbes that influence the virulence of multiple pathogens, and until now, scientists have little understanding of how Clostridium difficile interacts
with the rich microbes in the gastrointestinal tract.

New research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine and its collaborators has revealed that an opportunistic pathogen of antibiotic resistance: enterococci may work with C.
difficile to reshape and enhance the metabolic environment in the gut, allowing C.
difficile to thrive
.
The discovery could help doctors identify patients with serious illnesses and open the door
to new treatments.

The new findings of UVA help explain why some patients face particular risks
.
The researchers determined that a group of antibiotic-resistant "opportunistic pathogens" found in the gut, namely enterococci, can cause C.
Diff is stronger and more dangerous
.

"The interaction between people, other microbes and the human gut is very complex
.
This study draws on the expertise of large, multidisciplinary teams from multiple institutions to unravel these complex interactions, and with a deeper understanding, we have the opportunity to develop new therapeutic strategies to treat this dangerous infection
.
" ”

Enterococci are bacteria that can themselves cause dangerous infections
that are difficult to treat.
For example, they can cause meningitis, urinary tract infections (which can be very severe in older people), painful gastrointestinal disorders diverticulitis, and other diseases
.
But the researchers found that the threat they pose doesn't stop there
.

The team collected stool samples from patients with diabetes, and then, they combined laboratory tests and advanced computer modeling to better understand this.
Diff interacts with other microorganisms
in the gut.

They found that enterococci are dangerous allies, and enterococci produce amino acids, including leucine and ornithine, which make Clostridium difficile a greater threat
to patients whose gut components are destroyed by antibiotics.

Papin and his team have developed powerful computer models that help researchers understand and predict complex changes
in the gut.
Their work, combined with laboratory studies conducted by other laboratories, showed that enterococci can greatly reshape the "metabolome" — a collection
of metabolites such as amino acids — in the gut.
The researchers report that these changes eventually reprogram and enhance their disease-causing behavior
.

"Computational modeling by Matthew Jenior (UVA postdoc in Papin's lab) helped to discover the role of amino acids in interactions.
Diff and enterococci, the computational models they have built will continue to help us better understand the molecular processes in the brain.
Diff causes disease
.
”

Through a better understanding of C .
Diff, the researchers say the bacteria interact with enterococci and other microbes in the gut, and doctors will be better able to fight this common, serious infection
.

"Biology is a data-rich science, and the ability to use computational models that data is just getting started, and we're excited
about the myriad opportunities to use data science and computer modeling to advance biological discovery.
"

Original:

Enterococci enhance Clostridioides difficile pathogenesis