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Updated: Sep 13, 2025

Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level
Published on: June 23, 2022
Metabolite-mediated interactions and direct contact between Fusobacterium varium and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii
Koji Hosomi1,2, Satoko Maruyama3,4, Tsubasa Matsuoka3,4
1Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, 1-58 Rinku-Oraikita, Izumisano, Osaka, 598-8531, Japan. hosomi@omu.ac.jp.
Background:
The human gut harbors a diverse microbiota that is crucial for maintaining health but also contributes to several diseases. Understanding how microbial communities are assembled and maintained is critical for advancing gut health.
Results:
We identified a unique interaction between the pathobiont Fusobacterium varium and the symbiont Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, both members of the gut microbial community; their interaction is driven by metabolites and direct cell-to-cell contact. Growth of F. varium was inhibited in the presence of F. prausnitzii because of a decrease in pH and an increase in β-hydroxybutyric acid. Conversely, the growth of F. prausnitzii was promoted in the presence of F. varium, likely via direct contact.
Conclusions:
These findings highlight the importance of metabolite-driven interactions and direct contact in shaping gut microbial communities and emphasize the potential of interactions between F. prausnitzii and F. varium in influencing gut health. Video Abstract.
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