Zinc is essential for biological processes in both mammalian hosts and their microbial symbionts. Sequestration of zinc is a strategy used by mammals to protect against bacterial pathogens. A new study has demonstrated that zinc supplementation increased susceptibility and worsened disease in a mouse model of Clostridium difficile infection.
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Acknowledgements
A.M.S. acknowledges support from NIH and NCATS grant UL1 TR000433. V.B.Y. acknowledges support from NIH grants U01 AI124255 and R21 AI120599.
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V.B.Y. has served as a consultant to Merck and Vendanta. V.B.Y. and A.M.S. have received a research grant from MedImmune.
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Seekatz, A., Young, V. Modulation of Clostridium difficile infection by dietary zinc. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 13, 686–688 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2016.177
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2016.177