Enterocloster citroniae and related gut microbiome species modulate Vibrio cholerae biofilm formation through the production of bioactive small molecules.

E. citroniae and related gut bacteria produce small molecules that inhibit V. cholerae motility and promote biofilm formation, affecting its virulence.

• Why it matters: Understanding microbiome-pathogen interactions is crucial for developing new strategies to prevent and treat cholera, yet the specific microbial influences on V. cholerae are not well characterized.
• What they did: Researchers examined how small molecules from E. citroniae and related species impact V. cholerae by conducting gene expression, motility, biofilm, and host cell interaction assays, revealing consistent inhibition of motility and induction of biofilm formation.
• The result: These findings demonstrate that gut microbiota-derived molecules modulate V. cholerae behavior and virulence, providing insights that could inform microbiome-based therapies for cholera and other infections.