The Association between Dysbiosis and Neurological Conditions Often Manifesting with Chronic Pain

Breaking the cycle: Psychological and social dimensions of pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders

BACKGROUND

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children present with chronic symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation without identifiable structural abnormalities. These disorders are closely linked to gut-brain axis dysfunction, altered gut microbiota, and psychosocial stress, leading to psychiatric comorbidities such as anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues. Understanding this bidirectional relationship is crucial for developing effective, holistic management strategies that address physical and mental health.

AIM

To examine the psychiatric impacts of FGIDs in children, focusing on anxiety and depression and their association with other neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, emphasizing the role of the gut-brain axis, emotional dysregulation, and psychosocial stress. Key mechanisms explored include neurotransmitter dysregulation, microbiota imbalance, central sensitization, heightening stress reactivity, emotional dysregulation, and symptom perception. The review also evaluates the role of family dynamics and coping strategies in exacerbating FGID symptoms and contributing to psychiatric conditions.

METHODS

A narrative review was conducted using 328 studies sourced from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, covering research published over the past 20 years. Inclusion criteria focused on studies examining FGID diagnosis, gut-brain mechanisms, psychiatric comorbidities, and psychosocial factors in pediatric populations. FGIDs commonly affecting children, including functional constipation, abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux, and cyclic vomiting syndrome, were analyzed concerning their psychological impacts.

RESULTS

The review highlights a strong connection between FGIDs and psychiatric symptoms, mediated by gut-brain axis dysfunction, dysregulated microbiota, and central sensitization. These physiological disruptions increase children’s vulnerability to anxiety and depression, while psychosocial factors - such as chronic stress, early-life trauma, maladaptive family dynamics, and ineffective coping strategies - intensify the cycle of gastrointestinal and emotional distress.

CONCLUSION

Effective management of FGIDs requires a biopsychosocial approach integrating medical, psychological, and dietary interventions. Parental education, early intervention, and multidisciplinary care coordination are critical in mitigating long-term psychological impacts and improving both gastrointestinal and mental health outcomes in children with FGIDs.

State-of-the-Art Personalized Therapy Approaches for Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: Understanding the Mechanisms and Drivers

Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) is a debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide, significantly impacting quality of life and imposing a substantial socioeconomic burden. Traditional treatment approaches often rely on a one-size-fits-all strategy, failing to account for individual variations in pathophysiological mechanisms, drivers, and the principles of personalized medicine. Furthermore, an overemphasis on biomechanical findings from imaging may lead to ineffective interventions and unnecessary surgical procedures, obscuring other important factors that contribute to pain perception. While highlighting the limitations of universal treatment approaches, in this review we present a practical clinical approach aimed at elucidating the main pathophysiological mechanisms and various factors underlying the development and maintenance of CNSLBP in order to create a personalized treatment program. In conclusion, this review underscores the need for personalized therapeutic strategies that take into account the unique characteristics of each patient, recognizing the complex interaction of biological, psychological, social, and other factors that contribute to the development of individual pain. By combining a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of this condition, we aim to improve clinical outcomes and provide information on the development of effective personalized treatment algorithms, particularly in the field of neurological practice.

A Mendelian randomization study to reveal gut-disc axis: causal associations between gut microbiota with intervertebral disc diseases

PURPOSE

Emerging evidence suggests a link between gut microbiota and intervertebral disc diseases (IDDs); however, the causal relationships remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the causal effects of gut microbiota on the risk of cervical disc disorders (CDD), other intervertebral disc disorders (OIDD), pyogenic intervertebral disc infections, and discitis, shedding light on the potential "gut-disc axis".

METHODS

Genetic variation data for 202 gut microbiota taxa were obtained from the Dutch Microbiome Project, and disease outcome data were sourced from the FinnGen consortium. A Mendelian Randomization (MR) approach was employed to assess causal relationships, using genetic variants as instrumental variables. Sensitivity analyses, including tests for pleiotropy, heterogeneity, and reverse causation, ensured robust findings.

RESULTS

The study identified 20 gut microbial taxa with significant associations to IDDs. Notably, taxa within the Erysipelotrichaceae family showed consistent protective effects against OIDD after Bonferroni correction (P < 0.05). Associations between several species and specific diseases, such as Alistipes senegalensis with CDD and Ruminococcus lactaris with discitis, were also observed. Sensitivity analyses confirmed no evidence of confounding or reverse causation.

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence of causal relationships between specific gut microbiota and IDDs, supporting the existence of a "gut-disc axis." The findings suggest that microbial dysbiosis may influence spinal health through systemic inflammation and immune regulation. These insights open new possibilities for microbiota-targeted interventions, such as probiotics or dietary modifications, to prevent or manage IDDs. However, further research is required to validate these therapeutic strategies.

Olfactory and Gustatory Disturbances as Early Indicators of Lung Cancer in Patients with Sleep Disorders: A Retrospective Cohort Study from the TriNetX US Collaborative Networks

Background: Olfactory and gustatory disturbances are commonly overlooked symptoms but may be linked to various health conditions, including cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that these sensory impairments could be early indicators of lung cancer, particularly in individuals with sleep disorders, a group already at elevated cancer risk due to factors like circadian disruption and hormonal changes. Objective: To evaluate whether olfactory and gustatory disturbances can serve as early markers for lung cancer in patients with sleep disorders. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed using data from the TriNetX database, spanning January 1, 2016, to June 30, 2024. Propensity score matching (1:1) was used to balance baseline characteristics between patients with olfactory and gustatory disturbances and a control group without these disturbances. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to assess lung cancer risk, with follow-up lasting up to 60 months. Results: After matching, 13,294 patients with olfactory and gustatory disturbances and 13,294 control patients were included. The analysis revealed a significantly higher risk of lung cancer in the disturbance group (HR = 1.431, 95% CI: 1.014-2.021). Subgroup analysis indicated that the risk was particularly elevated in patients over 50, males, and those with dorsalgia. COVID-19 infection did not have a significant impact on lung cancer risk in this population. Conclusion: Olfactory and gustatory disturbances may serve as early markers for lung cancer, particularly in older patients and males with sleep disorders. These findings suggest the potential for using sensory impairments in early cancer detection strategies.

Endometriosis: Future Biological Perspectives for Diagnosis and Treatment

Endometriosis is an oestrogen-dependent inflammatory disease affecting menstruating women, with varying levels of severity. Oestrogen dysregulation is responsible for chronic inflammation, angiogenesis, endometrial lesion development, progression, and infertility during menarche in afflicted women. The inflammatory mediators associated with this chronic painful disease have been established, with research also indicating the relationship between dysbiosis and disease manifestation. Endometriosis is also present with several painful comorbidities, including endometrial cancer, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmunity. The lack of specific and sensitive non-invasive diagnostic procedures, coupled with poor response to current therapeutic approaches, means that treatment needs remain unmet. Surgical procedures are performed to remove endometriosis ectopic lesions, for which the recurrence rate of disease is up to 50%, with certain patients exhibiting no alleviation of symptoms. This review aims to outline the aetiology of endometriosis, detailing novel diagnostic approaches and potential therapeutic approaches, namely advanced therapeutic medical products (ATMPs), including stem cell therapy and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) gene editing. This timely review also provides novel insights into the important recent modalities which may be applied for the diagnosis and therapeutic response of endometriosis, including biomarkers, microfluidic platforms, and organoid systems. Undoubtedly, reliable, reproducible, sensitive, and specific models of endometriosis in humans are urgently needed to investigate and detail the aetiology of this debilitating disease.

Manipulating the Gut Microbiome in Urinary Tract Infection-Prone Patients

Although antibiotics remain the mainstay of urinary tract infection treatment, many affected women can be caught in a vicious cycle in which antibiotics given to eradicate one infection predispose them to develop another. This effect is primarily mediated by disturbances in the gut microbiome that both directly enrich for uropathogenic overgrowth and induce systemic alterations in inflammation, tissue permeability, and metabolism that also decrease host resistance to infection recurrences. Here, we discuss nonantibiotic approaches to manipulating the gut microbiome to reverse the systemic consequences of antibiotics, including cranberry supplementation and other dietary approaches, probiotic administration, and fecal microbiota transplantation.

A deep learning framework combining molecular image and protein structural representations identifies candidate drugs for pain

Artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning technologies hold promise for identifying effective drugs for human diseases, including pain. Here, we present an interpretable deep-learning-based ligand image- and receptor's three-dimensional (3D)-structure-aware framework to predict compound-protein interactions (LISA-CPI). LISA-CPI integrates an unsupervised deep-learning-based molecular image representation (ImageMol) of ligands and an advanced AlphaFold2-based algorithm (Evoformer). We demonstrated that LISA-CPI achieved ∼20% improvement in the average mean absolute error (MAE) compared to state-of-the-art models on experimental CPIs connecting 104,969 ligands and 33 G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Using LISA-CPI, we prioritized potential repurposable drugs (e.g., methylergometrine) and identified candidate gut-microbiota-derived metabolites (e.g., citicoline) for potential treatment of pain via specifically targeting human GPCRs. In summary, we presented that the integration of molecular image and protein 3D structural representations using a deep learning framework offers a powerful computational drug discovery tool for treating pain and other complex diseases if broadly applied.

Beneficial Effects of Ginger Root Extract on Pain Behaviors, Inflammation, and Mitochondrial Function in the Colon and Different Brain Regions of Male and Female Neuropathic Rats: A Gut-Brain Axis Study

BACKGROUND

Neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction have been implicated in the progression of neuropathic pain (NP) but can be mitigated by supplementation with gingerol-enriched ginger (GEG). However, the exact benefits of GEG for each sex in treating neuroinflammation and mitochondrial homeostasis in different brain regions and the colon remain to be determined.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the effects of GEG on emotional/affective pain and spontaneous pain behaviors, neuroinflammation, as well as mitochondria homeostasis in the amygdala, frontal cortex, hippocampus, and colon of male and female rats in the spinal nerve ligation (SNL) NP model.

METHODS

One hundred rats (fifty males and fifty females) were randomly assigned to five groups: sham + vehicle, SNL + vehicle, and SNL with three different GEG doses (200, 400, and 600 mg/kg BW) for 5 weeks. A rat grimace scale and vocalizations were used to assess spontaneous and emotional/affective pain behaviors, respectively. mRNA gene and protein expression levels for tight junction protein, neuroinflammation, mitochondria homeostasis, and oxidative stress were measured in the amygdala, frontal cortex, hippocampus, and colon using qRT-PCR and Western blot (colon).

RESULTS

GEG supplementation mitigated spontaneous pain in both male and female rats with NP while decreasing emotional/affective responses only in male NP rats. GEG supplementation increased intestinal integrity (claudin 3) and suppressed neuroinflammation [glial activation (GFAP, CD11b, IBA1) and inflammation (TNFα, NFκB, IL1β)] in the selected brain regions and colon of male and female NP rats. GEG supplementation improved mitochondrial homeostasis [increased biogenesis (TFAM, PGC1α), increased fission (FIS, DRP1), decreased fusion (MFN2, MFN1) and mitophagy (PINK1), and increased Complex III] in the selected brain regions and colon in both sexes. Some GEG dose-response effects in gene expression were observed in NP rats of both sexes.

CONCLUSIONS

GEG supplementation decreased emotional/affective pain behaviors of males and females via improving gut integrity, suppressing neuroinflammation, and improving mitochondrial homeostasis in the amygdala, frontal cortex, hippocampus, and colon in both male and female SNL rats in an NP model, implicating the gut-brain axis in NP. Sex differences observed in the vocalizations assay may suggest different mechanisms of evoked NP responses in females.

Neonatal Infectious Disease: A Major Contributor to Infant Mortality Requiring Advances in Point-of-Care Diagnosis

Neonatal infectious disease continues to result in high rates of infant morbidity and mortality. Early- and late-onset disease represent difficult to detect and difficult to treat illnesses, particularly when antimicrobial resistant pathogens are present. Newborns are immunodeficient and are at increased risk of vertical and horizontal infection, with preterm infants increasingly susceptible. Additional risk factors associated with infection include prolonged use of a central catheter and/or ventilation, congenital abnormalities, admittance to intensive care units, and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. There is increasing recognition of the importance of the host microbiome and dysbiosis on neonatal infectious disease, including necrotising enterocolitis and sepsis in patients. Current diagnostic methods rely on blood culture, which is unreliable, time consuming, and can result in false negatives. There is a lack of accurate and reliable diagnostic tools available for the early detection of infectious disease in infants; therefore, efficient triage and treatment remains challenging. The application of biomarkers, machine learning, artificial intelligence, biosensors, and microfluidics technology, may offer improved diagnostic methodologies. Point-of-care devices, such diagnostic methodologies, may provide fast, reliable, and accurate diagnostic aids for neonatal patients. This review will discuss neonatal infectious disease as impacted by antimicrobial resistance and will highlight novel point-of-care diagnostic options.

The Role and Applications of Artificial Intelligence in the Treatment of Chronic Pain

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review aims to explore the interface between artificial intelligence (AI) and chronic pain, seeking to identify areas of focus for enhancing current treatments and yielding novel therapies.

RECENT FINDINGS

In the United States, the prevalence of chronic pain is estimated to be upwards of 40%. Its impact extends to increased healthcare costs, reduced economic productivity, and strain on healthcare resources. Addressing this condition is particularly challenging due to its complexity and the significant variability in how patients respond to treatment. Current options often struggle to provide long-term relief, with their benefits rarely outweighing the risks, such as dependency or other side effects. Currently, AI has impacted four key areas of chronic pain treatment and research: (1) predicting outcomes based on clinical information; (2) extracting features from text, specifically clinical notes; (3) modeling 'omic data to identify meaningful patient subgroups with potential for personalized treatments and improved understanding of disease processes; and (4) disentangling complex neuronal signals responsible for pain, which current therapies attempt to modulate. As AI advances, leveraging state-of-the-art architectures will be essential for improving chronic pain treatment. Current efforts aim to extract meaningful representations from complex data, paving the way for personalized medicine. The identification of unique patient subgroups should reveal targets for tailored chronic pain treatments. Moreover, enhancing current treatment approaches is achievable by gaining a more profound understanding of patient physiology and responses. This can be realized by leveraging AI on the increasing volume of data linked to chronic pain.

Understanding public perceptions and discussions on diseases involving chronic pain through social media: cross-sectional infodemiology study

BACKGROUND

Chronic pain is a highly prevalent medical condition that negatively impacts quality of life and is associated with considerable functional disability. Certain diseases, such as fibromyalgia, headache, paraplegia, neuropathy, and multiple sclerosis, manifest with chronic pain.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to examine the number and type of tweets (original or retweet) related to chronic pain, as well as to analyze the emotions and compare the societal impact of the diseases under study.

METHODS

We investigated tweets posted between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2022, by Twitter users in English and Spanish, as well as the generated retweets. Additionally, emotions were extracted from these tweets and their diffusion was analyzed. Furthermore, the topics most frequently discussed by users were collected.

RESULTS

A total of 72,874 tweets were analyzed, including 44,467 in English and 28,407 in Spanish. Paraplegia represented 23.3% with 16,461 of the classified tweets, followed by headache and fibromyalgia with 15,337 (21.7%) and 15,179 (21.5%) tweets, respectively. Multiple sclerosis generated 14,781 tweets (21%), and the fewest tweets were related to neuropathy with 8,830 tweets (12.5%). The results showed that the primary emotions extracted were "fear" and "sadness." Additionally, the reach and impact of these tweets were investigated through the generated retweets, with those related to headaches showing the highest interest and interaction among users.

CONCLUSION

Our results underscore the potential of leveraging social media for a better understanding of patients suffering from chronic pain and its impact on society. Among the most frequently encountered topics are those related to treatment, symptoms, or causes of the disease. Therefore, it is relevant to inform the patient to prevent misconceptions regarding their illness.

Role of Nutrition in the Management of Patients with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP), defined as persistent discomfort in musculoskeletal tissues persisting for over 3 months, afflicts an estimated 1.71 billion people globally, leading to significant functional impairments and psychological distress, thereby detrimentally affecting individuals' quality of life. The objective of this narrative review is to elucidate the complex relationship among dietary habits, sarcopenia, and gut microbiota composition, with an eye toward enhancing patient management and outcomes. Given the burgeoning interest in the influence of diet on CMP, a detailed examination of the current literature is warranted. Nutritional intake is a critical determinant of the gut microbiota profile, which, in turn, is linked to musculature integrity and performance, potentially leading to sarcopenia. The development of sarcopenia can aggravate CMP owing to diminished muscular strength and functionality. Additionally, disruptions in the gut microbiota may directly modulate nociception, intensifying CMP manifestations. Thus, nutritional optimization emerges as a viable approach to CMP management. Emphasizing a diet conducive to a healthy gut microbiome could forestall or mitigate sarcopenia, thereby attenuating CMP intensity. Nevertheless, the domain calls for further empirical exploration to unravel the nuances of these interactions and to forge efficacious dietary strategies for individuals with CMP. Beyond mere analgesia, comprehensive patient care for CMP requires acknowledgment of the complex and multifactorial nature of pain and its foundational elements. Embracing an integrative treatment model allows healthcare practitioners to promise better patient prognoses, enriched life quality, and a decrease in the sustained healthcare costs associated with CMP.

Hospital Acquired Sepsis, Disease Prevalence, and Recent Advances in Sepsis Mitigation

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, commonly associated with nosocomial transmission. Gram-negative bacterial species are particularly problematic due to the release of the lipopolysaccharide toxins upon cell death. The lipopolysaccharide toxin of E. coli has a greater immunogenic potential than that of other Gram-negative bacteria. The resultant dysregulation of the immune system is associated with organ failure and mortality, with pregnant women, ICU patients, and neonates being particularly vulnerable. Additionally, sepsis recovery patients have an increased risk of re-hospitalisation, chronic illness, co-morbidities, organ damage/failure, and a reduced life expectancy. The emergence and increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in bacterial and fungal species has impacted the treatment of sepsis patients, leading to increasing mortality rates. Multidrug resistant pathogens including vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, beta lactam-resistant Klebsiella, and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter species are associated with an increased risk of mortality. To improve the prognosis of sepsis patients, predominantly high-risk neonates, advances must be made in the early diagnosis, triage, and control of sepsis. The identification of suitable biomarkers and biomarker combinations, coupled with machine learning and artificial intelligence, show promise in early detection protocols. Rapid diagnosis of sepsis in patients is essential to inform on clinical treatment, especially with resistant infectious agents. This timely review aims to discuss sepsis prevalence, aetiology, and recent advances towards disease mitigation and control.

Current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is the most common off-target adverse effects caused by various chemotherapeutic agents, such as cisplatin, oxaliplatin, paclitaxel, vincristine and bortezomib. CIPN is characterized by a substantial loss of primary afferent sensory axonal fibers leading to sensory disturbances in patients. An estimated of 19-85% of patients developed CIPN during the course of chemotherapy. The lack of preventive measures and limited treatment options often require a dose reduction or even early termination of life-saving chemotherapy, impacting treatment efficacy and patient survival. In this Review, we summarized the current understanding on the pathogenesis of CIPN. One prominent change induced by chemotherapeutic agents involves the disruption of neuronal cytoskeletal architecture and axonal transport dynamics largely influenced by the interference of microtubule stability in peripheral neurons. Due to an ineffective blood-nerve barrier in our peripheral nervous system, exposure to some chemotherapeutic agents causes mitochondrial swelling in peripheral nerves, which lead to the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore and cytochrome c release resulting in degeneration of primary afferent sensory fibers. The exacerbated nociceptive signaling and pain transmission in CIPN patients is often linked the increased neuronal excitability largely due to the elevated expression of various ion channels in the dorsal root ganglion neurons. Another important contributing factor of CIPN is the neuroinflammation caused by an increased infiltration of immune cells and production of inflammatory cytokines. In the central nervous system, chemotherapeutic agents also induce neuronal hyperexcitability in the spinal dorsal horn and anterior cingulate cortex leading to the development of central sensitization that causes CIPN. Emerging evidence suggests that the change in the composition and diversity of gut microbiota (dysbiosis) could have direct impact on the development and progression of CIPN. Collectively, all these aspects contribute to the pathogenesis of CIPN. Recent advances in RNA-sequencing offer solid platform for in silico drug screening which enable the identification of novel therapeutic agents or repurpose existing drugs to alleviate CIPN, holding immense promises for enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy and improve their overall treatment outcomes.

Intestinal Dysbiosis: Microbial Imbalance Impacts on Colorectal Cancer Initiation, Progression and Disease Mitigation

The human gastrointestinal tract houses a diverse range of microbial species that play an integral part in many biological functions. Several preclinical studies using germ-free mice models have demonstrated that the gut microbiome profoundly influences carcinogenesis and progression. Colorectal cancer appears to be associated with microbial dysbiosis involving certain bacterial species, including F. nucleatum, pks+ E. coli, and B. fragilis, with virome commensals also disrupted in patients. A dysbiosis toward these pro-carcinogenic species increases significantly in CRC patients, with reduced numbers of the preventative species Clostridium butyicum, Roseburia, and Bifidobacterium evident. There is also a correlation between Clostridium infection and CRC. F. nucleatum, in particular, is strongly associated with CRC where it is associated with therapeutic resistance and poor outcomes in patients. The carcinogenic mode of action of pathogenic bacteria in CRC is a result of genotoxicity, epigenetic alterations, ROS generation, and pro-inflammatory activity. The aim of this review is to discuss the microbial species and their impact on colorectal cancer in terms of disease initiation, progression, and metastasis. The potential of anticancer peptides as anticancer agents or adjuvants is also discussed, as novel treatment options are required to combat the high levels of resistance to current pharmaceutical options.

Novel primers to identify a wider diversity of butyrate-producing bacteria

Butyrate-producing bacteria are a functionally important part of the intestinal tract flora, and the resulting butyric acid is essential for maintaining host intestinal health, regulating the immune system, and influencing energy metabolism. However, butyrate-producing bacteria have not been defined as a coherent phylogenetic group. They are primarily identified using primers for key genes in the butyrate-producing pathway, and their use has been limited to the Bacillota and Bacteroidetes phyla. To overcome this limitation, we developed functional gene primers able to identify butyrate-producing bacteria through the butyrate kinase gene, which encodes the enzyme involved in the final step of the butyrate-producing pathway. Genomes extracted from human and rat feces were used to amplify the target genes through PCR. The obtained sequences were analyzed using BLASTX to construct a developmental tree using the MEGA software. The newly designed butyrate kinase gene primers allowed to recognize a wider diversity of butyrate-producing bacteria than that recognized using currently available primers. Specifically, butyrate-producing bacteria from the Synergistota and Spirochaetota phyla were identified for the first time using these primers. Thus, the developed primers provide a more accurate method for researchers and doctors to identify potential butyrate-producing bacteria and deepen our understanding of butyrate-producing bacterial species.

Role of Probiotics and Prebiotics in Gut Symbiosis

The objective of this Special Issue entitled 'Role of Probiotics and Prebiotics in Gut Symbiosis' is to publish reviews, clinical trials and experimental studies that focus on probiotics and prebiotics that have a role in influencing disease and promoting gastrointestinal and overall health [...].

Foodborne Clostridioides Species: Pathogenicity, Virulence and Biocontrol Options

Clostridioides species possess many virulence factors and alarming levels of muti-drug resistance which make them a significant risk to public health safety and a causative agent of livestock disease. Clostridioides result in serious systemic and gastrointestinal diseases such as myonecrosis, colitis, food poisoning and gastroenteritis. As foodborne pathogens, Clostridioides species are associated with significant incidences of morbidity and mortality where the application of broad-spectrum antibiotics predisposes patients to virulent Clostridioides colonisation. As part of the One Health approach, there is an urgent need to eliminate the use of antibiotics in food production to safeguard animals, humans and the environment. Alternative options are warranted to control foodborne pathogens at all stages of food production. Antimicrobial peptides and bacteriophages have demonstrated efficacy against Clostridioides species and may offer antimicrobial biocontrol options. The bacteriocin nisin, for example, has been implemented as a biopreservative for the control of Listeria, Staphylococcus and Clostridia species in food. Bacteriophage preparations have also gained recognition for the antibacterial action against highly virulent bacterial species including foodborne pathogens. Studies are warranted to mitigate the formulation and administration limitations associated with the application of such antimicrobials as biocontrol strategies. This review outlines foodborne Clostridioides species, their virulence factors, and potential biocontrol options for application in food production.