What's for dinner? How Citrobacter rodentium's metabolism helps it thrive in the competitive gut. (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liang, Qiaochu; Vallance, Bruce A
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in microbiology. Volume 63(2021)
• Page Start: 76
• Page End: 82
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.06.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-5274

Abstract

Highlights: Enteric pathogens like C. rodentium must acquire nutrients to infect their hosts. Pathogen colonization is restricted by microbiota sequestration of nutrients. Nutrients promote C. rodentium virulence and facilitate mucus subversion. C. rodentium uses aerobic respiration, inflammation and unique nutrients to expand. C. rodentium is cleared from gut when outcompeted for nutrients by the microbiota. Abstract : Enteric bacterial infections impose a significant and global health burden on society, and their threat is increasing in concert with a rise in antibiotic resistance. There is thus a great need to quickly develop new antimicrobial treatments and interest is growing in targeting pathogen nutrition and metabolism. In this review, we highlight recent research on the metabolism of Citrobacter rodentium, a murine-specific relative of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). We focus on the mechanisms by which C. rodentium acquires nutrients as well as the distinct metabolic strategies that C. rodentium employs in varying spatiotemporal niches. We propose that identifying and targeting nutrients found essential for bacterial pathogenesis is an attractive anti-microbial approach in the new post-antibiotic era.