Gut associated metabolites and their roles in pathogenesis.

The nosocomial pathogen is a burden to the healthcare system. Gut microbiome disruption, most commonly by broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment, is well established to generate a state that is susceptible to CDI. A variety of metabolites produced by the host and/or gut microbiota have been shown to interact with . Certain bile acids promote/inhibit germination while other cholesterol-derived compounds and amino acids used in the Stickland metabolic pathway affect growth and CDI colonization. Short chain fatty acids maintain intestinal barrier integrity and a myriad of other metabolic compounds are used as nutritional sources or used by to inhibit or outcompete other bacteria in the gut. As the move toward non-antibiotic CDI treatment takes place, a deeper understanding of interactions between and the host's gut microbiome and metabolites becomes more relevant.