Dysfunctional mucus structure in cystic fibrosis increases vulnerability to colibactin-mediated DNA adducts in the colon mucosa

Amanda Mandarino Alves, Chiara Lecchi, Sharon Lopez, Alessia Stornetta, Prince P. Mathai, Peter W. Villalta, Satoshi Ishii, Emily P. Balskus, Silvia Balbo, Alexander Khoruts

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Colibactin is a recently characterized pro-carcinogenic genotoxin produced by pks+ Escherichia coli. We hypothesized that cystic fibrosis (CF)-associated dysfunctional mucus structure increases the vulnerability of host mucosa to colibactin-induced DNA damage. In this pilot study, we tested healthy-appearing mucosal biopsy samples obtained during screening and surveillance colonoscopies of adult CF and non-CF patients for the presence of pks+ E. coli, and we investigated the possibility of detecting a novel colibactin-specific DNA adduct that has not been yet been demonstrated in humans. While CF patients had a lower incidence of pks+ E. coli carriage (~8% vs 29%, p = 0.0015), colibactin-induced DNA adduct formation was detected, but only in CF patients and only in those who were not taking CFTR modulator medications. Moreover, the only patient found to have colon cancer during this study had CF, harbored pks+ E. coli, and had colibactin-induced DNA adducts in the mucosal samples. Larger studies with longitudinal follow-up should be done to extend these initial results and further support the development of colibactin-derived DNA adducts to stratify patients and their risk.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number2387877
JournalGut microbes
Volume16
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Keywords

  • colibactin
  • colon cancer
  • cystic fibrosis
  • microbiota
  • pks+ E. coli

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article

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