The physical biogeography of <i>Fusobacterium nucleatum</i> in health and disease.

ABSTRACT: Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) is an oral commensal inhabiting the human gingival plaque that is rarely found in the gut. However, in colorectal cancer (CRC), Fn can be isolated from stool samples and detected in metagenomes. We hypothesized that ecological characteristics of the gut are altered by disease, enabling Fn to colonize. Multiple genomically distinct populations of Fn exist, but their ecological preferences are unstudied. We identified six well-separated populations in 133 Fn genomes and used simulated metagenomes to demonstrate sensitive detection of populations in human oral and gut metagenomes. In 9,560 samples from 11 studies, Fn population C2 animalis is elevated in gut metagenomes from CRC and Crohn's disease patients and is o

SUBMITTER: Connolly JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11980382 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature