Human gut Faecalibacterium prausnitzii deploy a highly efficient conserved system to cross-feed on β-mannan-derived oligosaccharides

ABSTRACTβ-Mannans are hemicelluloses that are abundant in modern diets as components in seed endosperms and common additives in processed food. Currently, the collective understanding of β-mannan saccharification in the human colon is limited to a few keystone species, which presumably liberate low-molecular-weight mannooligosaccharide fragments that become directly available to the surrounding microbial community. Here we show that a dominant butyrate-producer in the human gut, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, is able to acquire and degrade various β-mannooligosaccharides (β-MOS), which are derived by the primary mannanolytic activity of neighboring gut microbiota. Detailed biochemical analyses of selected protein components from their two β-mannooligosaccharides (β-MOS) utilization loci (FpMULs) supported a concerted model whereby the imported β-MOS are stepwise disassembled intracellularly by highly adapted enzymes. Coculturing experiments of F. prausnitzii with the primary degrader Bacteroides ovatus on polymeric β-mannan resulted in syntrophic growth and production of butyrate, thus confirming the high efficiency of the FpMULs’ uptake system. Genomic comparison with human F. prausnitzii strains and analyses of 2441 public human metagenomes revealed that FpMULs are highly conserved and distributed worldwide. Together, our results provide a significant advance in the knowledge of β-mannans metabolism and the degree to which its degradation is mediated by cross-feeding interactions between prominent beneficial microbes in the human gut.ImportanceCommensal butyrate-producing bacteria belonging to the Firmicutes phylum are abundant in the human gut and are crucial for maintaining health. Currently, insight is lacking into how they target otherwise indigestible dietary fibers and into the trophic interactions they establish with other glycan degraders in the competitive gut environment. By combining cultivation, genomic and detailed biochemical analyses this work reveals the mechanism enabling F. prausnitzii, as a model clostridial cluster IV Firmicute, to cross-feed and access β-mannan-derived oligosaccharides released in the gut ecosystem by the action of primary degraders. A comprehensive survey of human gut metagenomes shows that FpMULs are ubiquitous in human populations globally, highlighting the importance of microbial metabolism of β-mannans/β-MOS as a common dietary component. Our findings provide a mechanistic understanding of the β-MOS utilization capability by F. prausnitzii that may be exploited to select dietary formulations specifically boosting this beneficial symbiont, thus butyrate production, in the gut.

Wood-Derived Dietary Fibers Promote Beneficial Human Gut Microbiota

The architecture of the gut bacterial ecosystem has a profound effect on the physiology and well-being of the host. Modulation of the gut microbiota and the intestinal microenvironment via administration of prebiotics represents a valuable strategy to promote host health. This work provides insights into the ability of two novel wood-derived preparations, AcGGM and AcAGX, to influence human gut microbiota composition and activity. These compounds were selectively fermented by commensal bacteria such as Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides-Prevotella, F. prausnitzii, and clostridial cluster IX spp. This promoted the microbial synthesis of acetate, propionate, and butyrate, which are beneficial to the microbial ecosystem and host colonic epithelial cells. Thus, our results demonstrate potential prebiotic properties for both AcGGM and AcAGX from lignocellulosic feedstocks. These findings represent pivotal requirements for rationally designing intervention strategies based on the dietary supplementation of AcGGM and AcAGX to improve or restore gut health.

First Insights into the Genome of the Moderately Thermophilic Bacterium Clostridium tepidiprofundi SG 508 T

The moderately thermophilic bacterium Clostridium tepidiprofundi is Gram-positive and belongs to clostridial cluster I. It was isolated from a hydrothermal vent chimney. Substrates utilized by C. tepidiprofundi include casein, peptone, tryptone, yeast extract, beef extract, starch, maltose, and glucose. The genome consists of one replicon (3.06 Mb).

Complete Genome Sequence of the Amino Acid-FermentingClostridium propionicumX2 (DSM 1682)

Clostridium propionicumis a strict anaerobic, Gram positive, rod-shaped bacterium that belongs to the clostridial cluster XIVb. The genome consists of one replicon (3.1 Mb) and harbors 2,936 predicted protein-encoding genes. The genome encodes all enzymes required for fermentation of the amino acids α-alanine, β-alanine, serine, threonine, and methionine.

Changes in gut microbiota due to supplemented fatty acids in diet-induced obese mice

Consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD), which is associated with chronic ‘low-grade’ systemic inflammation, alters the gut microbiota (GM). The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of an oleic acid-derived compound (S1) and a combination of n-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA, S2) to modulate both body weight and the GM in HFD-induced obese mice. A total of eighty mice were fed either a control diet or a HFD, non-supplemented or supplemented with S1 or S2. At week 19, faeces were collected in order to analyse the GM. Group-specific primers for accurate quantification of several major bacterial groups from faecal samples were assayed using quantitative PCR. The HFD induced an increase in body weight, which was reduced by supplementation with S1. Furthermore, S1 supplementation markedly increased total bacterial density and restored the proportions of bacteria that were increased (i.e. clostridial cluster XIVa and Enterobacteriales) or decreased (i.e. Bifidobacterium spp.) during HFD feeding. S2 supplementation significantly increased the quantities of Firmicutes (especially the Lactobacillus group). Correlation analysis revealed that body weight correlated positively with the phylum Firmicutes and clostridial cluster XIVa, and negatively with the phylum Bacteroidetes. In conclusion, the consumption of a HFD induced changes in the faecal microbiota, which were associated with the appearance of an obese phenotype. Supplementation of the HFD with S1 counteracted HFD-induced gut dysbiosis, together with an improvement in body weight. These data support a role for certain fatty acids as interesting nutrients related to obesity prevention.

An arabinoxylan-rich fraction from wheat enhances caecal fermentation and protects colonocyte DNA against diet-induced damage in pigs

Population studies show that greater red and processed meat consumption increases colorectal cancer risk, whereas dietary fibre is protective. In rats, resistant starches (a dietary fibre component) oppose colonocyte DNA strand breaks induced by high red meat diets, consistent with epidemiological data. Protection appears to be through SCFA, particularly butyrate, produced by large bowel carbohydrate fermentation. Arabinoxylans are important wheat fibre components and stimulate large bowel carbohydrate SCFA production. The present study aimed to determine whether an arabinoxylan-rich fraction (AXRF) from wheat protected colonocytes from DNA damage and changed colonic microbial composition in pigs fed with a diet high (30 %) in cooked red meat for 4 weeks. AXRF was primarily fermented in the caecum, as indicated by higher tissue and digesta weights and higher caecal (but not colonic) acetate, propionate and total SCFA concentrations. Protein fermentation product concentrations (caecalp-cresol and mid- and distal colonic phenol) were lower in pigs fed with AXRF. Colonocyte DNA damage was lower in pigs fed with AXRF. The microbial profiles of mid-colonic mucosa and adjacent digesta showed that bacteria affiliating withPrevotellaspp. and Clostridial cluster IV were more abundant in both the mucosa and digesta fractions of pigs fed with AXRF. These data suggest that, although AXRF was primarily fermented in the caecum, DNA damage was reduced in the large bowel, occurring in conjunction with lower phenol concentrations and altered microbial populations. Further studies to determine the relationships between these changes and the lowering of colonocyte DNA damage are warranted.

Saccharofermentans acetigenes gen. nov., sp. nov., an anaerobic bacterium isolated from sludge treating brewery wastewater

A spore-forming anaerobic bacterium, designated strain P6T, was isolated from the sludge of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor treating brewery wastewater. Cells were Gram-positive, oval and 0.6–0.9 μm by 1.2–1.8 μm in size. Growth was observed at 20–42 °C and at pH 5.0–7.5. It fermented several hexoses, polysaccharides and alcohols. Sucrose and aesculin could also be fermented. The main end products of fermentation from glucose were acetate, lactate and fumarate; trace CO2 and H2 were also produced. The DNA G+C content of strain P6T was 55.6 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C14 : 0 3-OH. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain P6T represented a novel phyletic sublineage in clostridial cluster III, and showed <91 % similarity to the type strains of recognized species in this cluster. Phenotypically, the new isolate was distinguished from its phylogenetic relatives (e.g. Clostridium straminisolvens, Clostridium thermocellum, Acetivibrio cellulolyticus and Clostridium aldrichii) by producing acid from glucose and its inability to degrade cellulose. On the basis of evidence from this polyphasic study, strain P6T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Saccharofermentans acetigenes gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Saccharofermentans acetigenes is P6T (=JCM 14006T =AS 1.5064T).

Proposal to unify Clostridium orbiscindens Winter et al. 1991 and Eubacterium plautii (Séguin 1928) Hofstad and Aasjord 1982, with description of Flavonifractor plautii gen. nov., comb. nov., and reassignment of Bacteroides capillosus to Pseudoflavonifractor capillosus gen. nov., comb. nov.

We isolated several strains from various clinical samples (five samples of blood, four of intra-abdominal pus and one of infected soft tissue) that were anaerobic, motile or non-motile and Gram-positive rods. Some of the strains formed spores. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that these organisms could be placed within clostridial cluster IV as defined by Collins et al. [(1994). Int J Syst Bacteriol 44, 812–826] and shared more than 99 % sequence similarity with Clostridium orbiscindens DSM 6740T and Eubacterium plautii DSM 4000T. Together, they formed a distinct cluster, with Bacteroides capillosus ATCC 29799T branching off from this line of descent with sequence similarities of 97.1–97.4 %. The next nearest neighbours of these organisms were Clostridium viride, Oscillibacter valericigenes, Papillibacter cinnamivorans and Sporobacter termitidis, with sequence similarities to the respective type strains of 93.1–93.4, 91.2–91.4, 89.8–90 and 88.7–89.3 %. On the basis of biochemical properties, phylogenetic position, DNA G+C content and DNA–DNA hybridization, it is proposed to unify Clostridium orbiscindens and Eubacterium plautii in a new genus as Flavonifractor plautii gen. nov., comb. nov., with the type strain Prévot S1T (=ATCC 29863T =VPI 0310T =DSM 4000T), and to reassign Bacteroides capillosus to Pseudoflavonifractor capillosus gen. nov., comb. nov., with the type strain CCUG 15402AT (=ATCC 29799T =VPI R2-29-1T).