Indole metabolites generated by microbiota inhibit Cryptosporidium growth.

Funkhouser-Jones et al. recently identified gut metabolites that affected Cryptosporidium growth. A key focus, indole, was shown to inhibit the parasite in vivo and in vitro by decreasing the host mitochondria function and the membrane potential of parasite mitosomes. These findings help clarify the role microflora and metabolites play in host resistance.