Western-style diet alters dynamics of infection and clearance of intestinal pathogenic bacteria

Western-style diet (WSD), which is high in fat and low in fiber, lacks nutrients to support gut microbiota. Consequently, WSD promotes microbiota encroachment and reduces microbiota density, potentially influencing colonization resistance, immune system readiness, and, consequently host defense against pathogenic bacteria. To examine impact of WSD on infection and gut microbiota compostion in response to gut bacterial pathogens, mice fed grain-based chow (GBC), WSD, or various versions thereof, were orally infected with Citrobacter rodentium