Protective Effects of Alginate and Chitosan Oligosaccharides against Clostridioides difficile Bacteria and Toxin

Clostridioides difficile infection is expected to become the most common healthcare-associated worldwide. C. difficile-induced pathogenicity significantly attributed its enterotoxin, TcdA, which primarily targets Rho-GTPases involved in regulating cytoskeletal and tight junction (TJ) dynamics, thus leading cytoskeleton breakdown ultimately increased intestinal permeability. This study investigated whether two non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDOs), alginate (AOS) chitosan (COS) oligosaccharides, possess antipathogenic barrier-protective properties against bacteria TcdA toxin, respectively. Both NDOs reduced growth, while cell cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that neither COS nor AOS attenuated TcdA-induced death 24 h post-exposure. The challenge of Caco-2 monolayers with increasing concentrations paracellular permeability, as measured by TEER LY flux assays. In this experimental setup, completely abolished, mitigated, deleterious effects on monolayer’s integrity. These events were not accompanied alterations ZO-1 occludin protein levels; however, immunofluorescence microscopy revealed both prevented mislocalization. Finally, accelerated TJ reassembly upon a calcium-switch assay. Overall, established capacity revealing their ability promote cells.