Metatranscriptomic-driven insights into mucosal glycan degradation by the human gut microbiota.

ABSTRACT: The secreted mucus layer in the human gastrointestinal tract constitutes both a protective boundary between gut lumen and epithelium as well as an important nutrient source for members of the gut microbiota. While many gut microbes possess the genetic potential to degrade mucin, it is still unclear which species transcribe the respective genes. Here, we systematically analysed publicly available metagenome and metatranscriptome datasets to characterize the gut microbial community involved in mucosal glycan degradation. We utilized cooccurrence network analysis and linear regression to elucidate the ecological strategies of, and relationship between, mucus degraders. We found that although ~60% of species carrying genes encoding for mucosal-glycan-degrading enzymes have detectable transcrip

SUBMITTER: Bauchinger F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12721379 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature