The Human Gut Microbe Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron Suppresses Toxin Release from Clostridium difficile by Inhibiting Autolysis.

ABSTRACT: Disruption of the human gut microbiota by antibiotics can lead to Clostridium difficile (CD)-associated diarrhea. CD overgrowth and elevated CD toxins result in gut inflammation. Herein, we report that a gut symbiont, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (BT), suppressed CD toxin production. The suppressive components are present in BT culture supernatant and are both heat- and proteinase K-resistant. Transposon-based mutagenesis indicated that the polysaccharide metabolism of BT is involved in the inhibitory effect. Among the genes identified, we focus on the methylerythritol 4-phosphate pathway gene gcpE, which supplies the isoprenoid backbone to produce the undecaprenyl phosphate lipid carrier that transports oligosaccharides across the membrane. Polysaccharide fractions pr

SUBMITTER: Elahi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7918992 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature