Functional metagenomic discovery of bacterial effectors in the human microbiome and isolation of commendamide, a GPCR G2A/132 agonist.

ABSTRACT: The trillions of bacteria that make up the human microbiome are believed to encode functions that are important to human health; however, little is known about the specific effectors that commensal bacteria use to interact with the human host. Functional metagenomics provides a systematic means of surveying commensal DNA for genes that encode effector functions. Here, we examine 3,000 Mb of metagenomic DNA cloned from three phenotypically distinct patients for effectors that activate NF-κB, a transcription factor known to play a central role in mediating responses to environmental stimuli. This screen led to the identification of 26 unique commensal bacteria effector genes (Cbegs) that are predicted to encode proteins with diverse catabolic, anabolic, and ligand-binding functions and most

SUBMITTER: Cohen LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4568208 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature