Glycan-based shaping of the microbiota during primate evolution.

ABSTRACT: Genes encoding glycosyltransferases can be under relatively high selection pressure, likely due to the involvement of the glycans synthesized in host-microbe interactions. Here, we used mice as an experimental model system to investigate whether loss of α-1,3-galactosyltransferase gene (GGTA1) function and Galα1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-R (αGal) glycan expression affects host-microbiota interactions, as might have occurred during primate evolution. We found that Ggta1 deletion shaped the composition of the gut microbiota. This occurred via an immunoglobulin (Ig)-dependent mechanism, associated with targeting of αGal-expressing bacteria by IgA. Systemic infection with an Ig-shaped microbiota inoculum elicited a less severe form of sepsis compared to infection with non-Ig-shaped microb

SUBMITTER: Singh S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8133779 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature