A genetic toolkit for the human gut bacterium Mediterraneibacter gnavus identifies capsular polysaccharides as a competitive colonization factor - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #genetic tools
- #inflammatory bowel disease
- #gut microbiome
- Development of genetic tools for Mediterraneibacter gnavus, including a shuttle vector, inducible promoter, and gene disruption systems.
- Identification of sortase-encoding genes involved in capsular polysaccharide (CPS) and superantigen-like protein presentation.
- Demonstration that CPS production is crucial for competitive colonization in germ-free mouse intestines.
- Inverse correlation found between CPS production and inflammatory activity, with CPS-positive strains more prevalent in healthy individuals than in Crohn's disease patients.
- Study suggests CPS modulates inflammation and pathogenesis, highlighting the role of genetic tools in understanding gut bacteria colonization and disease mechanisms.