# Commensal control of C. difficile virulence

> **NIH NIH R01** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2024 · $673,670

## Abstract

Abstract: Clostridioides difficile, the etiology of pseudomembranous colitis, causes substantive
morbidity, mortality and close to $5 billion/year in US healthcare costs. Commensals provide
primary protection against C. difficile infections though the underlying mechanisms of action
remain ill-defined. We have identified individual bacterial species that provide long-term survival
against virulent C. difficile strains, and other species that can make the infection worse. Our
proposed aims will define specific commensal activities and commensal genes mediating these
effects on the pathogen, and test their functions in vivo, in mice carrying mouse vs human complex
microbiota, for the purposes of developing defined bacteriotherapeutics and biomarkers to predict
successful therapy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10765622
- **Project number:** 5R01AI153605-04
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** LYNN BRY
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $673,670
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-02-01 → 2026-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10765622

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10765622, Commensal control of C. difficile virulence (5R01AI153605-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10765622. Licensed CC0.

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