Promoter orientation of the immunomodulatory Bacteroides fragilis capsular polysaccharide A (PSA) is off in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

ABSTRACT: Bacteroides fragilis is a member of the normal microbiota of the lower gastrointestinal tract, but some strains produce the putative tumourigenic B. fragilis toxin (BFT). In addition, B. fragilis can produce multiple capsular polysaccharides that comprise a microcapsule layer, including an immunomodulatory, zwitterionic, polysaccharide A (PSA) capable of stimulating anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 (IL-10) production. It is known that the PSA promoter can undergo inversion, thereby regulating the expression of PSA. A PCR digestion technique was used to investigate B. fragilis capsular PSA promoter orientation using human samples for the first time. It was found that approximately half of the B. fragilis population in a healthy patient population had PSA orientated in the 'ON' position. How

SUBMITTER: Blandford LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6748595 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature