Environmental Pollutant Benzo[a]Pyrene Impacts the Volatile Metabolome and Transcriptome of the Human Gut Microbiota.

ABSTRACT: Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a ubiquitous, persistent, and carcinogenic pollutant that belongs to the large family of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Population exposure primarily occurs via contaminated food products, which introduces the pollutant to the digestive tract. Although the metabolism of B[a]P by host cells is well known, its impacts on the human gut microbiota, which plays a key role in health and disease, remain unexplored. We performed an in vitro assay using 16S barcoding, metatranscriptomics and volatile metabolomics to study the impact of B[a]P on two distinct human fecal microbiota. B[a]P exposure did not induce a significant change in the microbial structure; however, it altered the microbial volatolome in a dose-dependent manner

SUBMITTER: Defois C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5559432 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature