Ecology of the intestinal microbe, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii

肠道微生物，普氏粪杆菌的生态学

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-06357
• 负责人: Philpott, Dana
• 金额: $ 3.21万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=616255
• 关键词: Ecology; intestinal; microbe; Faecalibacterium; prausnitzii

Microbial communities (microbiota) in the gut digest our food and protect us against infectious organisms. How the microbiota contribute to these processes is known in only a few specific cases, partly due to the enormous diversity of microbes (more than 1000 species in our gut) and the complexity of their interactions with each other and with us. In this proposed research, I will explore some of these interactions in the context of a simplified microbiota (12 species), with a focus on a key microbe, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Experiments will be conducted in mice and in community culture systems. The bacterial species, F. prausnitzii, is a dominant member of the microbiota in the colon of healthy adults. This is the part of the gut where complex foods are digested and absorbed, and F. prausnitzii is thought to be a key contributor to these processes. F. prausnitzii digests dietary fiber as a source of energy and produces an important metabolite, butyrate, which has beneficial effects on colon health. In addition, F. prausnitzii has been shown to secrete a variety of molecules that reduce gut inflammation through mechanisms of communication with the intestinal immune system that are only partially known. The conditions necessary for promoting these functions are not known. Intestinal inflammation, which is a normal response to infection, is a significant stress on the microbiota and can lead to transient or sometimes long-term changes in community composition (i.e. some species die while others flourish) and behavior (i.e. switch to survival mode). F. prausnitzii levels are dramatically reduced in the inflamed gut, suggesting that this organism is sensitive to changes in the gut ecosystem. There is currently great interest in developing therapies based on restoring the healthful qualities of this species for patients with chronic inflammatory diseases such as Crohn’s disease. To do so will require a better understanding of how F. prausnitzii, as well as other members of the microbiota, regulate their interactions with the intestinal environment, other members of the microbiota and the intestinal immune system to restore gut processes. This understanding will contribute to our overall understanding of a healthy gut.

肠道中的微生物群落（微生物群）消化我们的食物，保护我们免受感染性生物的侵害。微生物群对这些过程的贡献仅在少数特定情况下是已知的，部分原因是微生物的巨大多样性（我们的肠道中有1000多个物种）以及它们彼此之间以及与我们之间相互作用的复杂性。在这项拟议的研究中，我将在简化的微生物群（12种）的背景下探索其中的一些相互作用，重点是一种关键微生物，普氏粪杆菌。实验将在小鼠和社区培养系统中进行。 该菌为F. prausnitzii是健康成年人结肠中微生物群的主要成员。这是消化和吸收复杂食物的肠道部分，F。prausnitzii被认为是这些过程的关键贡献者。F. prausnitzii将膳食纤维作为能量来源，并产生重要的代谢物丁酸盐，对结肠健康有有益的影响。此外，F.已显示Prausnitzii分泌多种分子，所述分子通过与肠免疫系统的通信机制来减少肠道炎症，所述机制仅部分已知。促进这些功能的必要条件尚不清楚。 肠道炎症是对感染的正常反应，是对微生物群的重大压力，可能导致群落组成（即一些物种死亡，而另一些物种繁荣）和行为（即切换到生存模式）的短暂或有时长期变化。F.在发炎的肠道中，普氏菌的水平显著降低，表明这种生物对肠道生态系统的变化很敏感。目前，人们对开发基于恢复该物种的健康品质的治疗慢性炎性疾病如克罗恩病的患者的疗法非常感兴趣。要做到这一点，需要更好地了解F。prausnitzii以及微生物群的其他成员调节它们与肠道环境、微生物群的其他成员和肠道免疫系统的相互作用，以恢复肠道过程。这种理解将有助于我们对健康肠道的全面理解。