Gut bacteria play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy gut, and new research from the University of Oregon has shed light on how they communicate with the mucus lining of the gut to prevent inflammation. The findings have implications for understanding and treating intestinal conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, as well as for developing more effective probiotics.
The study, led by UO microbiologist Jarrod Smith in collaboration with Karen Guillemin, focused on Aeromonas bacteria in zebrafish, which are transparent when young, allowing researchers to observe bacterial behavior. They discovered that Aeromonas bacteria have a large protein on their surface that detects gut mucus, specifically interacting with glycans, complex sugar molecules on the mucus proteins.
When the researchers engineered Aeromonas bacteria to lack this surface molecule, the bacteria did not aggregate properly and instead operated as solitary entities in parts of the gut where they shouldn’t be. This abnormal behavior triggered inflammation. However, when the bacteria were engineered to have a similar surface molecule from a different bacterial species called Akkermansia muciniphila, healthy bacterial behavior was restored and inflammation was reduced.
The researchers’ findings suggest that communication between bacteria and gut mucus is important not only for Aeromonas bacteria but also for many other species of bacteria. Understanding how beneficial bacteria behave in the gut and what goes wrong when they do not respond to cues properly could help in the development of targeted probiotics for specific issues.
In addition to shedding light on microbiome behavior, the study also provides a new model for studying gut inflammation, which is poorly understood. Intestinal conditions like Crohn’s, colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome can be investigated more effectively using different laboratory models of inflammation.
Professor Guillemin highlighted the significance of the study, stating, For me, a major takeaway from this study is that it provides new ideas about how we expect beneficial bacteria to behave in a healthy gut, and the molecular mechanisms that promote these health-associated behaviors.
The research opens up new avenues for exploring gut health and offers insights into the role of gut bacteria in promoting a healthy gut. By understanding the communication between bacteria and gut mucus, scientists can work towards developing more effective probiotics and gaining a better understanding of the root causes of intestinal conditions.
