Dysfunctional families: Clostridium scindens and secondary bile acids inhibit the growth of Clostridium difficile

Abstract

C. difficile infection is a deadly disease that is influenced by the microbiome. In a recent article in Nature, Buffie et al. (2014) demonstrate that the ability of C. scindens to synthesize secondary bile acids is crucial to providing resistance to C. difficile infection.

Figure 1.. S.scidens and Secondary Bile Acids Inhibit C.difficile Growth

(Left) inthe absence of antibiotics, the gut microbial community is diverse and includes bacteria such as S.scindens that convert primary bile acids into secondary bile acids, whcih, in turn, inhibits the growth of C.diffile. (Right) Broad-spectrum antibiotics diminish the diversity of the gut microbial community. Loss of certain bacteria such as C.scindens results in reduced production of secondary bile acids and increased growth of C.difficile. Additionally, accumulation of primary bile acids leads to increased spore germination of C.difficile.