Extra-intestinal effects of Clostridioides difficile in zebrafish

What is it about?

Here, the extra-intestinal effects of toxin A (TcdA) and B (TcdB) produced by Clostridioides difficile have been studied in vivo using zebrafish. Both toxins induced cardiovascular damage in zebrafish embryos by different mechanisms: (i) direct toxicity (i.e., pericardial edema, cardiac chambers enlargement, endothelial alteration); (ii) increased hormonal production and release (i.e., atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)), (iii) alteration of the vascular system through the increase of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) levels, as well as of its receptors, (iv) pro-inflammatory response through high cytokines production (i.e., CXCL8, IL1B, IL6 and TNFα) and (v) cell-mediated damage due to the increase in neutrophils number. In addition to cardiovascular damage, we observe skin alteration and inflammation. Finally, our data indicate a protective effect of HSA toward the toxins-induced extra-intestinal effects.

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Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

Photo by David Clode on Unsplash