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Lectins as probes of the human intestinal microbiome
Author(s) -
Isabella Christine R.,
Raman Smrithi,
Dugan Amanda,
Wuo Michael,
Kiessling Laura L.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2020.34.s1.06401
Subject(s) - microbiome , biology , glycan , lectin , microbiology and biotechnology , human microbiome , glycosylation , bacteria , bacterial adhesin , immunology , biochemistry , glycoprotein , gene , escherichia coli , genetics
The human microbiota is intimately linked to health and disease. However, identifying community members that contribute to a healthy or dysbiotic state remains a challenge. Host factors regulate microbiome composition by promoting colonization or clearance of microbes. One such factor, soluble lectins, can detect microbes at strain‐level resolution by specific recognition of glycans. Several human lectins expressed at mucosal surfaces can bind microbes, but lectin specificity for microbes is under‐characterized. To this end, we have generated and characterized a suite of fluorescently labeled human soluble lectins to elucidate their microbe‐specificity. Using these probes, we analyzed recognition of bacteria from the human intestinal microbiota, and found that different lectins bind distinct populations. These data support the use of lectins as specific probes of microbial glycosylation. Further, analysis of fecal samples using lectins implicated in clearance of pathogens or promotion of colonization could provide a facile method of profiling the microbiota in health and disease.