{
  "abstract": "Early-life microbial exposures can shape lifelong disease risk, yet how developmental timing influences the host-microbe interaction remains unclear. During neonatal colonization by enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF), the metalloprotease toxin BFT enables lamina propria niche entry and remodeling of colonic epithelial cell states. Early-life ETBF exposure expands murine Lgr5+ stem cells, enhances Atoh1+ secretory differentiation, and induces distal colon-specific Wnt hyperactivation. These epithelial alterations coincide with increased formation of precancerous lesions in ApcMin/+ mice. ETBF preferentially forms intracellular bacterial aggregates within these lesions, establishing a persistent reservoir that reinforces epithelial remodeling. Colonization with non-toxigenic B. fragilis during this critical developmental window prevents lesion formation, revealing that developmental context dictates whether microbial colonization imprints protection or predisposition toward colorectal cancer.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "S. K. Russell"
    },
    {
      "name": "E. Valguarnera"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. J. Pak"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "J. Bubeck Wardenburg"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a68177hj8cyba.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.28.755180",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.28.755180v1.full",
  "id": "a68177hj8cyba",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.28.755180v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "cancer biology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|Gut microbiota and health"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214750737",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.28.755180v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-28",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a68177hj8cyba.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:25:11Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.28.755180",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.28.755180v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "biorxiv:cancer biology",
      "subfield": "oncology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Early-life colonization by enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis remodels gut epithelial stem cell states to drive colorectal cancer susceptibility",
  "title_text": "Early-life colonization by enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis remodels gut epithelial stem cell states to drive colorectal cancer susceptibility",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:25:11Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a68177hj8cyba",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}