Colitis-Induced Th17 Cells Increase the Risk for Severe Subsequent Clostridium difficile Infection (Cell Host & Microbe)

C. difficile infection is more common and severe in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Saleh et al. demonstrate that colitis induces a population of Th17 cells that persists beyond the resolution of inflammation. These cells lead to increased disease severity and host mortality after infection with C. difficile.