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

E. citroniae and related gut microbiome species produce small molecules that inhibit V. cholerae motility and induce biofilm formation, affecting its behavior.

• Why it matters: Understanding microbiome-pathogen interactions is crucial for developing new strategies to combat cholera, yet the influence of gut microbiota on V. cholerae behavior remains underexplored.
• What they did: Researchers examined how small molecules from E. citroniae and related species affect V. cholerae through gene expression analysis, biofilm assays, and transcriptome studies, focusing on motility and biofilm formation.
• The result: E. citroniae metabolites inhibit V. cholerae motility and promote biofilm formation, modulate genes involved in extracellular polysaccharide synthesis, and influence interactions with host cells, suggesting potential for microbiome-based therapies.