Fungal β-glucan-facilitated cross-feeding activities between Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium species
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Published Version
Supplementary Information
Date
2023
Authors
Fernandez-Julia, Pedro J.
Black, Gary W.
Cheung, William
van Sinderen, Douwe
Munoz-Munoz, Jose
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nature Research
Published Version
Abstract
The human gut microbiota (HGM) is comprised of a very complex network of microorganisms, which interact with the host thereby impacting on host health and well-being. β-glucan has been established as a dietary polysaccharide supporting growth of particular gut-associated bacteria, including members of the genera Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium, the latter considered to represent beneficial or probiotic bacteria. However, the exact mechanism underpinning β-glucan metabolism by gut commensals is not fully understood. We show that mycoprotein represents an excellent source for β-glucan, which is consumed by certain Bacteroides species as primary degraders, such as Bacteroides cellulosilyticus WH2. The latter bacterium employs two extracellular, endo-acting enzymes, belonging to glycoside hydrolase families 30 and 157, to degrade mycoprotein-derived β-glucan, thereby releasing oligosaccharides into the growth medium. These released oligosaccharides can in turn be utilized by other gut microbes, such asBifidobacterium and Lactiplantibacillus, which thus act as secondary degraders. We used a cross-feeding approach to track how both species are able to grow in co-culture.
Description
Keywords
Human gut microbiota , HGM , β-glucan , Bacteroides , Bifidobacterium
Citation
Fernandez-Julia, P., Black, G. W., Cheung, W., Van Sinderen, D., and Munoz-Munoz, J. (2023) 'Fungal β-glucan-facilitated cross-feeding activities between Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium species', Communications Biology, 6(1), 576 (14pp). doi: 10.1038/s42003-023-04970-4