Welcome to the
Host-Microbiota Interactions and Clostridia Research Group
The Daniel Paredes-Sabja Lab
What do we study?
Clostridioides difficile-host interactions, C. difficile spore surface assembly and therapeutic development.
- Clostridioides difficile Infections (CDI) and Recurrence
C. difficile is a major hospital-acquired pathogen, causing significant illness and economic burden. Antibiotics typically treat the initial infection, but recurrence (R-CDI) occurs in 20-30% of patients, often with worsened symptoms. The primary cause of recurrence is disruption of the intestinal microbiota, which fails to protect against reinfection. Fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) show high efficacy for recurrent cases, but carry risks, including transmission of resistant microorganisms and other diseases.
2. Role of C. difficile Spores in Disease Persistence
C. difficile spores are key to the persistence and recurrence of infection. These spores are resistant to antibiotics and host immune responses, allowing them to survive in the gut and trigger recurrent infections. Research is focused on understanding how spores interact with the intestinal mucosa, including how they enter the gut and persist during infection, which could lead to new therapeutic strategies to prevent recurrence.
3. Therapeutic Development and Future Approaches
Current vaccine efforts targeting C. difficile toxins have failed to provide adequate protection. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches are being developed to block the interaction of C. difficile spores with the intestinal mucosa and prevent their persistence. These strategies combine insights from immunology, pharmacology, and nanotechnology, aiming to combat CDI, prevent recurrence, and reduce transmission.