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Distinct Polysaccharide Utilization Determines Interspecies Competition between Intestinal Prevotella spp.
Eric J C Gálvez1, Aida Iljazovic2, Lena Amend2
1Department of Microbial Immune Regulation, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany; Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, Berlin, Germany.
Cell Host & Microbe
|October 28, 2020
Summary
Prevotella bacteria dominate the gut, especially with plant-based diets. Efficiently using plant sugars like arabinoxylans helps these Prevotella species thrive and become dominant.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Gut Microbiome Research
- Dietary Impact on Bacteria
Background:
- Prevotella species are prominent in the human gut microbiome.
- Their abundance is often linked to plant-rich diets.
- Prevotella species show varied abilities in utilizing complex carbohydrates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the competitive dynamics of Prevotella species in relation to diet.
- To understand the molecular mechanisms behind Prevotella dominance.
- To explore the role of specific carbohydrates in Prevotella gut colonization.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of Prevotella species from mouse gut models.
- Genomic and transcriptomic analysis of Prevotella in vivo.
- In vivo competition experiments between different Prevotella species.
Main Results:
- Prevotella species compete for similar metabolic niches within the gut.
- Upregulation of specific polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs) is associated with this competition.
- Complex plant polysaccharides, particularly arabinoxylans, are crucial for Prevotella expansion and abundance.
- A specific PUL enabling arabinoxylan utilization is conserved in dominant Prevotella strains, including human Prevotella copri.
Conclusions:
- Efficient arabinoxylan utilization is a key factor contributing to Prevotella dominance in the gut.
- Dietary plant polysaccharides significantly influence the abundance and competition of Prevotella species.
- The findings provide insights into the ecological strategies of Prevotella in the gut microbiome.
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