Marjorie Pizarro‐Guajardo

Repurposing nystatin and taurocholate to target intracellular spore persistence during antibiotic treatment to prevent recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection.

This study shows that combining nystatin, taurocholate, and antibiotics, with nanoparticle delivery, reduces recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection by targeting intracellular spores.

Gut complement C1q and C3 interact with Clostridioides difficile spores via CdeM and contribute to pathogenesis.

This study identifies complement proteins C1q and C3 as interacting with C. difficile spores via CdeM, influencing spore entry, persistence, and recurrence of infection.

Distinctive spore architecture and developmental biology of Turicibacter sanguinis reveal unexpected diversity among gut spore formers

This study characterizes the sporulation and germination of Turicibacter sanguinis, revealing unique spore architecture and regulatory mechanisms distinct from Bacilli and Clostridia.

Phylogenomic analysis of the collagen-like BclA proteins in Clostridioides difficile

This study analyzes the conservation and variability of BclA proteins across C. difficile clades using genomic data from over 25,000 genomes, revealing clade-specific differences in bclA gene presence and structure.

Clostridioides difficile major toxins remodel the intestinal epithelia, affecting spore adherence/internalization into intestinal tissue and their association with gut vitronectin.

This study shows that C. difficile toxins TcdA and TcdB remodel fibronectin and vitronectin in intestinal tissue, enhancing spore adherence and internalization, which may contribute to disease recurrence.

Role of Glycogen Metabolism in Clostridioides difficile Virulence

This study investigates glycogen metabolism's role in C. difficile virulence, finding that glycogen accumulation enhances spore resilience and disease relapse.