TY - JOUR
T1 - Intestinal persistence of Bifidobacterium infantis is determined by interaction of host genetics and antibiotic exposure
AU - Wang, Yiming
AU - Choo, Jocelyn M.
AU - Richard, Alyson C.
AU - Papanicolas, Lito E.
AU - Wesselingh, Steve L.
AU - Taylor, Steven L.
AU - Rogers, Geraint B.
PY - 2024/1
Y1 - 2024/1
N2 - Probiotics have gained significant attention as a potential strategy to improve health by modulating host-microbe interactions, particularly in situations where the normal microbiota has been disrupted. However, evidence regarding their efficacy has been inconsistent, with considerable interindividual variability in response. We aimed to explore whether a common genetic variant that affects the production of mucosal α(1,2)-fucosylated glycans, present in around 20% of the population, could explain the observed interpersonal differences in the persistence of commonly used probiotics. Using a mouse model with varying α(1,2)-fucosylated glycans secretion (Fut2WT or Fut2KO), we examined the abundance and persistence of Bifidobacterium strains (infantis, breve, and bifidum). We observed significant differences in baseline gut microbiota characteristics between Fut2WT and Fut2KO littermates, with Fut2WT mice exhibiting enrichment of species able to utilize α(1,2)-fucosylated glycans. Following antibiotic exposure, only Fut2WT animals showed persistent engraftment of Bifidobacterium infantis, a strain able to internalize α(1,2)-fucosylated glycans, whereas B. breve and B. bifidum, which cannot internalize α(1,2)-fucosylated glycans, did not exhibit this difference. In mice with an intact commensal microbiota, the relationship between secretor status and B. infantis persistence was reversed, with Fut2KO animals showing greater persistence compared to Fut2WT. Our findings suggest that the interplay between a common genetic variation and antibiotic exposure plays a crucial role in determining the dynamics of B. infantis in the recipient gut, which could potentially contribute to the observed variation in response to this commonly used probiotic species.
AB - Probiotics have gained significant attention as a potential strategy to improve health by modulating host-microbe interactions, particularly in situations where the normal microbiota has been disrupted. However, evidence regarding their efficacy has been inconsistent, with considerable interindividual variability in response. We aimed to explore whether a common genetic variant that affects the production of mucosal α(1,2)-fucosylated glycans, present in around 20% of the population, could explain the observed interpersonal differences in the persistence of commonly used probiotics. Using a mouse model with varying α(1,2)-fucosylated glycans secretion (Fut2WT or Fut2KO), we examined the abundance and persistence of Bifidobacterium strains (infantis, breve, and bifidum). We observed significant differences in baseline gut microbiota characteristics between Fut2WT and Fut2KO littermates, with Fut2WT mice exhibiting enrichment of species able to utilize α(1,2)-fucosylated glycans. Following antibiotic exposure, only Fut2WT animals showed persistent engraftment of Bifidobacterium infantis, a strain able to internalize α(1,2)-fucosylated glycans, whereas B. breve and B. bifidum, which cannot internalize α(1,2)-fucosylated glycans, did not exhibit this difference. In mice with an intact commensal microbiota, the relationship between secretor status and B. infantis persistence was reversed, with Fut2KO animals showing greater persistence compared to Fut2WT. Our findings suggest that the interplay between a common genetic variation and antibiotic exposure plays a crucial role in determining the dynamics of B. infantis in the recipient gut, which could potentially contribute to the observed variation in response to this commonly used probiotic species.
KW - Bifidobacterium
KW - Bifidobacterium infantis
KW - microbiome
KW - secretor status
KW - α(1, 2)-fucosylated glycans
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85197292132&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/2008625
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/119378
U2 - 10.1093/ismejo/wrae107
DO - 10.1093/ismejo/wrae107
M3 - Article
C2 - 38896583
AN - SCOPUS:85197292132
SN - 1751-7362
VL - 18
JO - ISME Journal
JF - ISME Journal
IS - 1
M1 - wrae107
ER -