Microbial genetic screen identifies bacterial genes that compromise Caenorhabditis elegans reproductive fitness

The mechanisms by which microbial genetic variation governs host reproductive fitness remain to be determined. Defining the causal relationship between specific microbial genes and host reproduction not only facilitates understanding of the microbe-host interaction mechanism but also provides new insights for reproductive health interventions. However, the complexity of the gut microbial community poses a challenge, and related research has been constrained by a lack of systematic approaches. In the present study, we utilized the Escherichia coli Keio collection that comprises 3,467 strains to screen for three mutant strains ΔcrcB, ΔpurE, and ΔyojI that markedly inhibit the reproductive fitness of Caenorhabditis elegans. These mutants reduce offspring number and prolong the time to first reproduction, specifically inhibiting spermatogenesis, while exerting no impact on locomotor function or lifespan. Multi-omics analyses revealed that these gene deletions trigger bacterial metabolic remodeling, characterized by the accumulation of cytidine diphosphate-diacylglycerol (CDP-DG) and disturbances in nucleotide and glycerophospholipid metabolism. These changes further regulate oxidative phosphorylation (with gene upregulation) and cell cycle pathways (with gene downregulation) in the host nematode, thereby inducing a "high metabolism, low proliferation" state and ultimately reducing reproductive fitness. This study delineates the one-to-one correspondence between gene deletions in Escherichia coli and alterations in nematode reproduction at the single-gene level, providing a novel framework for dissecting the molecular basis of host reproductive disorders from a microbial genetics perspective.IMPORTANCEThis study identifies a direct causal link between a specific bacterial gene and host reproductive fitness. Systematic screening of Escherichia coli mutants showed that deleting one gene severely impairs Caenorhabditis elegans reproduction. Using a controllable model, we achieved precise microbe gene-host reproductive phenotype mapping, revealing the mechanism: bacterial gene deficiency induces host "high metabolism, low proliferation" to reduce fertility. It offers a new genetic perspective for understanding microbe-mediated reproductive disorders and a framework for dissecting single-gene microbe-host interactions and developing targeted interventions.