Research on the complex interactions between human gut microbiota and dietary components has unveiled intriguing insights on the selective utilization of medicinal polysaccharides by gut bacteria, particularly Bacteroides and Parabacteroides species. These bacteria are instrumental for metabolic functions and overall health, yet their ability to metabolize specific polysaccharides, derived from medicinal plants, directs the course for developing innovative prebiotics and therapeutic agents.
A recent study systematically mapped the utilization profiles of twenty different medicinal polysaccharides by twenty-eight human gut Bacteroides and Parabacteroides species. Scientists observed notable variations across species, leading to findings about how specific polysaccharides, such as ginseng and Dendrobium polysaccharides, influenced bacterial growth. Ginseng polysaccharides promoted diverse Bacteroides and Parabacteroides, whereas Dendrobium polysaccharides selectively enhanced the growth of Bacteroides uniformis.
The rationale behind this study stems from the growing recognition of microbial metabolic pathways and polysaccharide interactions. Bacteroides and Parabacteroides are primary consumers of polysaccharides, capable of utilizing both endogenous and exogenous oligo/polysaccharides to provide nutrition, vitamins, and overall health support to their hosts.
Understanding the mechanisms at play is pivotal for creating polysaccharide-based prebiotics and drugs. The study highlights how the profile of medicinal polysaccharides utilized varied significantly, with Bacteroides uniformis demonstrating specific utilitarian traits tied to genomic data on carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes).
Through comprehensive transcriptomics and genetic manipulations, the researchers identified the polysaccharide utilization locus PUL34_Bu as pivotal for the utilization of Dendrobium polysaccharides. The enzyme GH26, present within PUL34_Bu, proved necessary for degrading various plant-derived mannan substrates, facilitating insights for future therapeutic approaches utilizing medicinal polysaccharides.
The findings of this study showcase the relationship between polysaccharide chemical structures and bacterial metabolic profiles, indicating the complexity of gut microbiota interactions with food. Notably, the genetic variation of CAZyme encoding among different Bacteroides and Parabacteroides species accounted for their distinct growth profiles when exposed to different polysaccharides, underlining the significance of enzyme clustering and diversity.
Such research not only enhances our knowledge of gut microbiome functionality but also holds promise for future strategies aimed at manipulating these communities for health benefits. The exploration of specific polysaccharide utilization can lead to enhanced efficacy of prebiotic strategies, potentially leading to significant advancements in human health interventions.
Through this direct study of microbial polysaccharide interaction, findings underline the potential of glycan-based prebiotics and targeted microbiome modulation therapies. The study strengthens the link between diet and intestinal health, emphasizing the contributions of specific dietary polysaccharides to beneficial gut microbiota and overall wellness.