Pathobionts: mechanisms of survival, expansion, and interaction with host with a focus on Clostridioides difficile

• Published in: Gut microbes Vol. 13; no. 1; p. 1979882
• Main Authors: Chandra, Harish, Sharma, Krishna Kant, Tuovinen, Olli H., Sun, Xingmin, Shukla, Pratyoosh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01.01.2021; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Animals; Clostridioides difficile - genetics; Clostridioides difficile - growth & development; Clostridioides difficile - physiology; Clostridium Infections - diagnosis; Clostridium Infections - immunology; Clostridium Infections - microbiology; Clostridium Infections - therapy; Dysbiosis; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; inflammasome; inflammatory bowel disease; innate lymphoid cells; pseudomembranous colitis; Review; Th17 Cells - immunology; toxins; pseudomembranous colitis; innate lymphoid cells; Dysbiosis; inflammasome; inflammatory bowel disease; toxins
• ISSN: 1949-0976; 1949-0984
• DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2021.1979882

Pathobionts are opportunistic microbes that emerge as a result of perturbations in the healthy microbiome due to complex interactions of various genetic, exposomal, microbial, and host factors that lead to their selection and expansion. Their proliferations can aggravate inflammatory manifestations, trigger autoimmune diseases, and lead to severe life-threatening conditions. Current surge in microbiome research is unwinding these complex interplays between disease development and protection against pathobionts. This review summarizes the current knowledge of pathobiont emergence with a focus on Clostridioides difficile and the recent findings on the roles of immune cells such as iTreg cells, Th17 cells, innate lymphoid cells, and cytokines in protection against pathobionts. The review calls for adoption of innovative tools and cutting-edge technologies in clinical diagnostics and therapeutics to provide insights in identification and quantification of pathobionts.