Faecalibacterium prausnitzii EXL01 Strain for the prevention of multiple-recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection.

A single Faecalibacterium prausnitzii EXL01 strain significantly reduces recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection in humans, with 83.3% remaining recurrence-free at 8 weeks.

• Why it matters: Recurrent C. difficile infection persists due to microbiome dysfunction, and current treatments like fecal microbiota transplantation lack scalability and standardization, creating a need for targeted alternatives.
• What they did: Researchers tested the safety and efficacy of oral EXL01 in a murine model and a phase I trial involving adults with multiple CDI episodes, analyzing stool samples through metagenomics and metabolomics.
• The result: The strain was safe, engrafted in stool, and restored critical microbiome functions such as bile acid metabolism and short-chain fatty acid production, enabling low recurrence rates and supporting precision microbiome therapies.