The human intestinal tract is densely colonized by a microbial community that is subject to intense competition. Bacteria in this complex habitat seek to outcompete their neighbors for nutrients and eliminate competitors with antibacterial toxins. Antagonism can be mediated by diverse effectors including toxic proteins and small molecule inhibitors that are released extracellularly or delivered by

The Western diet is associated with gastrointestinal dysbiosis, an active contributor to the pathophysiology of obesity and its comorbidities. Gastrointestinal dysbiosis is strongly linked to increased adiposity, low-grade inflammation, dyslipidaemia, and insulin resistance in individuals with morbid obesity. Bariatric bypass surgery remains the most effective treatment for achieving significant weight

Protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and risk of long COVID has been associated with the depletion or over-abundance of specific taxa within the gut microbiome. However, the microbial mechanisms mediating these effects are not yet known. We hypothesized that altered microbial production of tryptophan and its downstream derivatives might contribute

Numerous studies have established that prebiotic ingredients in foods and dietary supplements may play a role in supporting human health. Over the three decades that have passed since prebiotics were first defined as a concept, research has revealed a complex universe of prebiotic-induced changes to the human microbiota. There are strong indications of a direct link between these prebiotic-induced

Intestinal mucins play a crucial role in the mucosal barrier, serving as the body's initial defense against microorganisms. However, how the host regulates the secretion and glycosylation of these mucins in response to bacterial invasion remains unclear. Our study demonstrates that when exposed to Streptococcus gallolyticus (SGG), a gut pathobiont, the host mucosa promptly adjusts the behavior of specialized

The fruits and vegetables we consume as part of our diet are rich in bioactive metabolites that can prevent and ameliorate cardiometabolic diseases, cancers, and neurological conditions. Polyphenols are a major metabolite family that has been intensively investigated in this context. However, for these compounds to exert their optimal bioactivity, they rely on the enzymatic capacity of an individual's

Lactic acid bacteria derived extracellular vesicles (LAB-EVs) are nano-sized and carry a variety of biological cargoes. LAB-EVs have proven to be potential mediators of intercellular communication, serving not only the parental bacteria but also the host cell in both physiology and pathology. LAB-EVs are therapeutically beneficial in various diseases through a cell-free strategy. Particularly, EVs

The gut microbiota has been implicated in onset and progression of ulcerative colitis (UC). Here, we assess potential causal involvement of the microbiota and -associated fecal water (FW) metabolome in altering key functional parameters of the colonic epithelium. Fecal samples were collected from N = 51 healthy controls (HC), N = 36 patients with active UC (UC-A), and N = 41 subjects in remission N = 41

Bile acids (BAs) undergo extensive microbial metabolism in the gut and exert hormone-like functions on physiological processes underlying metabolic risk. However, the extent to which gut BA profiles predict cardiometabolic risk and explain individual responses to dietary interventions in humans is still unclear. In the DIRECT-PLUS Trial, we conducted a multi-omics analysis of 284 participants randomized

An extensive network of microbial-host interactions exists in the gut, making the gut microbiome a complex ecosystem to untangle. The microbial composition and the fecal metabolites are important readouts to investigate intricate microbiota-diet-host interplay. However, this ecosystem is dynamic, and it is of interest to understand the degree and timescale of changes occurring in the gut microbiota

Gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in combating diseases and facilitating healthy aging, and natural products derived from biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) of the human microbiome exhibit significant biological activities. However, the natural products of the gut microbiome in long-lived populations remain poorly understood. Here, we integrated six cohorts of long-lived populations, encompassing

Non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica (NTS) is a major global foodborne pathogen that poses a major public health concern worldwide, and no vaccines are available for protecting against infection of multiple Salmonella serotypes, therefore, the development of Salmonella vaccines to provide broad protection is valuable. In this work, we aimed to regulate lipopolysaccharide (LPS) synthesis of live Salmonella

KRAS mutations are associated with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Although the association between the gut microbiota and CRC has been extensively documented, it is unclear whether KRAS mutations can regulate the gut microbiota. Metagenomics has identified changes in the diversity of the gut microbiota in CRC due to KRAS mutations. Specifically, KRAS mutations positively correlate with

Deciphering the molecular communications along the gut-brain axis can help in understanding the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases and exploiting the gut microbiome for therapeutics. However, gut microbes and their metabolites have a multifaceted role in mediating both brain physiology and neurodegenerative pathology. There is a lack of understanding of how and when this role is tipped in

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by destruction of pancreatic β-cells, leading to insulin deficiency and hyperglycemia, and its incidence is increasing year by year. The pathogenesis of T1DM is complex, mainly including genetic and environmental factors. Intestinal flora is the largest microbial community in the human body and plays a very important role

Fusobacterium nucleatum can promote colorectal cancer (CRC) development through a variety of virulence proteins. Zhang et al. recently identified an adhesin RadD, for Fusobacterium nucleatum adhesion to CRC. Targeting the interaction between RadD and CD147 will provide a new strategy for CRC treatment. This Commentary and View not only summarizes the research highlights but also discusses the possibility

Shigella spp. cause bacillary dysentery (shigellosis) with high morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Infection occurs through the fecal-oral route and can be devastating for vulnerable populations, including infants and the elderly. These bacteria invade host cells using a type III secretion system (T3SS). No licensed vaccine yet exists for shigellosis, but we have generated

The human gastrointestinal tract is colonized by a complex microbial ecosystem, the gut microbiota, which is pivotal in maintaining host health and mediating resistance to diseases. This review delineates colonization resistance (CR), a critical defensive mechanism employed by the gut microbiota to safeguard against pathogenic bacterial invasions, notably by Salmonella. We detail the mechanisms through

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (STm) is a causative pathogen for robust inflammatory gastrointestinal disease and can lead to systemic infection. Eicosanoids, bioactive lipid mediators, play a crucial role in modulating both the induction and resolution of inflammatory responses during an infection. A subset of eicosanoids activates PPARs, nuclear receptor/transcription factors that regulate

Appetite, a crucial aspect regulated by both the central nervous system and peripheral hormones, is influenced by the composition and dynamics of the intestinal microbiota, as evidenced by recent r...

Gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota plays an active role in regulating the host’s immune system and metabolism, as well as certain pathophysiological processes. Diet is the main factor modulating GI m...

Undernutrition in children commonly disrupts the structure and function of the small intestinal microbial community, leading to enteropathies, compromised metabolic health, and impaired growth and development. The mechanisms by which diet and microbes mediate the balance between commensal and pathogenic intestinal flora remain elusive. In a murine model of undernutrition, we investigated the direct

Faecal/intestinal microbiota transplant (FMT/IMT) is an efficacious treatment option for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection, which has prompted substantial interest in FMT's potential role in the management of a much broader range of diseases associated with the gut microbiome. Despite its promise, the success rates of FMT in these other settings have been variable. This review critically

The International Rome Committee defines Disorders of Gut-Brain Interactions (DGBI) based upon distinct combinations of chronic and/or recurrent unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms. Yet patients ...

Probiotics hold great potential for treating metabolic diseases such as obesity. Given the complex and multifactorial nature of these diseases, research on probiotic combination with multiple targe...

Pouchitis is an idiopathic inflammatory disease that may occur in ileal pouches, and it can lead to ileal pouch failure. This was a single-center, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled tri...

Weaning, the transition from a milk-based diet to solid food, coincides with the most significant shift in gut microbiome composition in the lifetime of most mammals. Notably, this period also mark...

Statins, known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, are widely utilized to reduce blood cholesterol levels and possess pleiotropic effects, including the influence on inflammation and macrophage prolif...

The importance of gut microbes in mediating the benefits of lifestyle intervention is increasingly recognized. However, compared to the bacterial microbiome, the role of intestinal fungi in exercis...

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), produced by the gut microbiota, are thought to exert an anti-inflammatory effect on the host immune system. The levels of SCFAs and abundance of the microbiota that...

Accumulating evidence suggests that gut microbiota alterations influence brain function and could serve as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The potential of using fecal microbiota sig...

Sulfur, a critical element for bacterial growth, is not directly utilized by bifidobacteria, rendering the sulfur-containing amino acid biosynthesis pathway, particularly for cysteine and methionin...

Most of the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced by Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae, Blautia, Coprococcus, Roseburia, Facealibacterium and Oscillospira. Butyrate (C4H7O2−) s...

Published in Gut Microbes (Vol. 16, No. 1, 2024)

The appropriateness of the fecal microbiota to adequately reflect the gut microbiota composition from more difficult to access luminal content at different colonic locations has been debated. Here,...

Candida tropicalis-a prevalent gut commensal fungus in healthy individuals – contributes to intestinal health and disease. However, how commensal C. tropicalis influences intestinal homeostasis and...

Published in Gut Microbes (Vol. 16, No. 1, 2024)

In bacteria, the cell envelope is the key element surrounding and protecting the bacterial content from mechanical or osmotic damages. It allows the selective interchanges of solutes, ions, cellula...

The current studies have shown that the occurrence and development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are closely related to the changes in gut health and its microenvironment, and eve...

IgA binding dictates the composition of the intestinal microbiome and reflects dysbiotic states during chronic disease. Both pathogenic and commensal bacteria differentially bind to IgA with varyin...

Diabetes mellitus can be subdivided into several categories based on origin and clinical characteristics. The most common forms of diabetes are type 1 (T1D), type 2 diabetes (T2D) and gestational d...

The host restricts Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection of the gut via inflammasome-dependent sloughing of infected epithelial cells. Here we determined that concurrent caspase 1/11-de...

Epidemiological investigation confirmed that the intake of dietary fiber (DF) is closely related to human health, and the most important factor affecting the physiological function of DF, besides i...

The human gut microbiome develops rapidly during infancy, a key window of development coinciding with the maturation of the adaptive immune system. However, little is known about the microbiome gro...

High-fat diet (HFD) has been linked to female infertility. However, the specific age at which HFD impacts ovarian function and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we administe...

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of several human conditions including abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia, all of which are risk factors of type 2 diabetes, card...

Gut microbiota-derived metabolites play a pivotal role in the maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis. Here, we demonstrate that the human commensal Clostridium sporogenes possesses a specific...

Infecting humans with controlled doses of helminths, such as human hookworm (termed hookworm therapy), is proposed to prevent or treat various intestinal and extraintestinal diseases. However, full...

Infection with the protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis (syn. intestinalis, lamblia) has been associated with intestinal mucus disruptions and microbiota dysbiosis. The mechanisms remain incomplet...

We investigated the role of ChiA and its associated polymorphisms in the interaction between Crohn’s disease (CD)-associated adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) and intestinal mucosa. We obse...

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) represent a cornerstone of gut health, serving as critical mediators of immune modulation and overall host homeostasis. Patients with dysbiosis caused by Clostridioi...

The Gram-negative anaerobic species Fusobacterium nucleatum was originally described as a commensal organism from the human oral microbiome. However, it is now widely recognized as a key inflammoph...

The interplay between the human microbiome and the musculoskeletal system represents a burgeoning field of research with profound implications for understanding and treating musculoskeletal disorde...

The microbiota-associated factors that affect host susceptibility and adaptive immunity to influenza A virus (IAV) infection have not been fully elucidated. By comparing the microbiota composition ...

The human intestine hosts a complex ecosystem of various microorganisms, collectively known as the gut microbiome, which significantly impacts human health. Disruptions in the gut microbiome are li...

The intestinal microbiota is increasingly recognized as a crucial player in the development and maintenance of various chronic conditions, including obesity and associated metabolic diseases. While...

Helicobacter pylori, a dominant member of the gastric microbiota was associated with various gastrointestinal diseases and presents a significant challenge due to increasing antibiotic resistance. ...

Severe brain damage is common among premature infants, and the gut microbiota has been implicated in its pathology. Although the order of colonizing bacteria is well described, the mechanisms under...

The anaerobic spirochete Brachyspira causes intestinal spirochetosis, characterized by the intimate attachment of bacterial cells to the colonic mucosa, potentially leading to symptoms such as diar...

Balanced interactions between the enteric microbiota and enterohepatic organs are essential to bile acid homeostasis, and thus normal gastrointestinal function. Disruption of these interactions by ...