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

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.

Imaging Clostridioides difficile Spore Germination and Germination Proteins

“…Surrounding this is the cortex, a thick layer of modified peptidoglycan where much of the muramic acid residues are converted to the muramic-δ-lactam moieties that are the target of the cortex lytic enzymes (20)(21)(22)(23)(24). Surrounding the cortex is the outer spore membrane (25,26), the coat layer (27), and the exosporium (28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33).…”