Jhansi Leslie

Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile is the leading cause of infectious nosocomial diarrhea. Host factors determining the outcome of acute C. difficile infection (CDI) include the gut microbiota and immune response. Diet is critical modulator of both the composition and function of the microbiota as well as the immune system. My work seeks to determine the impact of a high-fat Western diet on the gut microbiota and the mucosal immune response, specifically in their downstream ramifications for CDI susceptibility.