Effect of Macronutrients on a Rat Model of Clostridioides Difficile Infection

Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) is an anaerobic, spore forming, gram-positive bacteria. C. diff is the causative agent of C. difficile infections (CDIs) and is recognized as the leading cause of nosocomial infective diarrhea worldwide. CDI is associated with the use of antibiotics that alter the gut microbiome and C. diff resides in the large intestine where onset of the disease then occurs. Having observed the impacts of CDI on mice models, the Abel-Santos lab now shifts to observing this infectious disease in rat models. Establishing the infectious dosage at 109 spores, this study aims to identify the correlation between diet composition and CDI sign severity. To determine the interplay between diet and CDI, the hypervirulent strain C. difficile R20291 (RT027) was used in a rat model of antibiotic-induced CDI. 8 rats were placed in three different diet groups (high protein, high carbohydrate, and high fat) and given a mixture of antibiotics. After the spore challenge on Day 0, disease outcome was assessed using modified scoring procedures different from the ones used in mouse models. Microbial community dynamics will also be assessed later in the study through fecal sample collections. From preliminary findings, high protein diets resulted in the exacerbation of CDI, whereas diets higher in fat and carbohydrates were found to protect rats from developing severe CDI symptoms. The animals are still undergoing scoring and will be scored for at least two weeks to observe any changes in symptoms if there are potential relapses in symptoms.