Open AccessCapsular polysaccharide correlates with immune response to the human gut microbe Ruminococcus gnavus
Author(s) -
Matthew T. Henke,
Eric Brown,
Chelsi D. Cassilly,
Hera Vlamakis,
Ramnik J. Xavier,
Jon Clardy
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2007595118
Subject(s) - ruminococcus , immune system , biology , inflammatory bowel disease , microbiology and biotechnology , innate immune system , disease , gut flora , immunology , medicine , pathology
Significance Microbes shape human health and disease. Today, there are increasing correlations of gut microbes with specific diseases, but the underlying molecules and mechanism linking the two are not known. This stifles both the understanding of disease causation and the development of suitable treatments. We investigated a dozen patient isolates ofRuminococcus gnavus , a prevalent gut microbe linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We found that some isolates possess a protective capsule that encourages a symbiotic relationship with the host immune system, while others lack this protective capsule and elicit a robust inflammatory immune response. This work reveals a path by whichR. gnavus could be connected to IBD and potential therapeutic interventions.