# Antibacterial activity and mechanism analysis of deoxycholic acid against Clostridium perfringens

## TL;DR

This study explores how deoxycholic acid fights Clostridium perfringens by disrupting cell structures and causing oxidative damage.

## Contribution

The study reveals new insights into the antimicrobial mechanism of deoxycholic acid against Clostridium perfringens.

## Key findings

- DCA inhibits C. perfringens biofilm formation and disrupts cell walls.
- DCA increases cell membrane permeability and causes nucleic acid leakage.
- Transcriptomic analysis shows DCA up-regulates oxidative phosphorylation and down-regulates antioxidant activity.

## Abstract

Deoxycholic acid (DCA), a gut microbiota-derived secondary metabolite, exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, particularly against Clostridium perfringens(C. perfringens). However, its precise mechanistic action remains unclear.

In this study, we examined the inhibitory mechanism of DCA against C. perfringens through in vitro growth inhibition assays coupled with transcriptomic analysis.

The study results indicate that DCA can effectively inhibit the formation of C. perfringens biofilms, disrupt their cell walls, increase cell membrane permeability, and cause nucleic acid leakage. Transcriptome analysis revealed that DCA can mediate its oxidative damage by up-regulating the oxidative phosphorylation pathway in C. perfringens and down-regulating antioxidant activity, peroxidase activity, and oxidoreductase activity. This study provides insights into the antimicrobial activity of DCA and its mechanisms, laying a theoretical foundation for its development as a novel antimicrobial agent or feed additive.