A novel probiotic therapeutic in a murine model of Clostridioides difficile colitis

Abstract

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a common cause of antimicrobial-associated diarrhea. Probiotics have shown variable results in decreasing its incidence and severity. We examined the efficacy of Lactobacillus reuteri administered using a novel probiotic biofilm delivery system in the treatment and prevention of CDI in a murine model.For prophylactic therapy, mice received an oral antibiotic cocktail followed by clindamycin injection, followed by probiotic administration (planktonic vs. biofilm state), followed by C. difficile oral gavage. For treatment therapy, mice received antibiotics and C. difficile first, followed by probiotic administration. Clinical sickness scores (CSS) and intestinal histologic injury scores (HIS) were assigned.In the Prophylactic Therapy model, CSS: 67% of untreated mice exposed to C. difficile demonstrated CSS ≥ 6, which is consistent with C. difficile infection (p< .001 compared to unexposed mice). In mice treated with planktonic Lr, 55% had a CSS ≥ 6, but only 19% of mice treated with Lr in its biofilm state had CSS ≥ 6 (p< .001). Mice receiving Lr + DM-Maltose lost the least amount of weight compared to mice receiving saline (p = .004676) or to mice receiving Lr (p= .003185). HIS: 77% of untreated mice exposed to C. difficile had HIS scores ≥4, which is consistent with C. difficile infection. In mice treated with planktonic Lr, 62% had HIS ≥4, but only 19% of mice treated with Lr in its biofilm state had HIS ≥4. (p< .001). Additionally, mice treated with Lr in its biofilm state had better survival compared to untreated mice and to mice treated with planktonic Lr (p ≤ 0.05). Similar findings for weight loss, CSS, HIS and survival were obtained for Treatment Therapy.A single dose of Lactobacillus reuteri in its biofilm state reduces the severity and incidence of experimental C. difficile infection when administered as both prophylactic and treatment therapy.

Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 administered as a dextranomar microsphere biofilm enhances immune responses against human rotavirus in a neonatal malnourished pig model colonized with human infant fecal microbiota

“…Recently, Shelby et al 2020 and colleagues have demonstrated that a single dose of Lactobacillus reuteri in its biofilm state reduces the severity and incidence of experimental C . difficile infection and necrotizing enterocolitis when administered as both prophylactic and treatment therapy [ 67 , 68 ]. Moreover, Navarro and colleagues demonstrated that probiotic bacterium L .…”

Lactobacillus reuteri in Its Biofilm State Improves Protection from Experimental Necrotizing Enterocolitis

“…Since probiotics offer a potential benefit in other infectious or inflammatory conditions, additional investigation is underway for the use of our enhanced probiotic formulation in the treatment and management of several other gastrointestinal diseases, including Clostridioides difficile colitis [89] and inflammatory bowel disease. ogy), and Cynthia McAllister (Nationwide Children's Hospital, Morphology Core) for playing an integral role in production of the presented scientific data.…”

Next-Generation Probiotic Therapy to Protect the Intestines From Injury

“…We have examined the use of L. reuteri as prophylaxis and treatment in a murine model of C. difficile infection, comparing L. reuteri in its biofilm state to its planktonic state ( Shelby et al., 2020 ). To induce C. difficile infection, adult C57BL/6 mice received an oral antibiotic cocktail followed by an intraperitoneal injection of clindamycin two days later.…”