Host factors in the intestine help select for bacteria that promote health. Certain commensals can utilize mucins as an energy source, thus promoting their colonization. However, health conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are associated with a reduced mucus layer, potentially leading to dysbiosis associated with this disease. We characterize the capability of commensal species to cleave and transport mucin-associated monosaccharides and identify several Clostridiales members that utilize intestinal mucins. One such mucin utilizer, Peptostreptococcus russellii, reduces susceptibility to epithelial injury in mice. Several Peptostreptococcus species contain a gene cluster enabling production of the tryptophan metabolite indoleacrylic acid (IA), which promotes intestinal epithelial barrier function and mitigates inflammatory responses. Furthermore, metagenomic analysis of human stool samples reveals that the genetic capability of microbes to utilize mucins and metabolize tryptophan is diminished in IBD patients. Our data suggest that stimulating IA production could promote anti-inflammatory responses and have therapeutic benefits.

肠道中的宿主因子有助于选择促进健康的细菌。某些赠品可以利用粘蛋白作为能源，从而促进它们的定殖。然而，诸如炎症性肠病（IBD）之类的健康状况与粘液层减少有关，可能导致与该疾病有关的营养不良。我们表征了共生物种裂解和运输与粘蛋白相关的单糖的能力，并确定了几种利用肠粘蛋白的梭菌成员。一种这样的粘蛋白利用者，罗氏氏链球菌（Peptostreptococcus russellii）降低了小鼠对上皮损伤的敏感性。几种肽链球菌该物种包含能够产生色氨酸代谢产物吲哚丙烯酸（IA）的基因簇，该蛋白促进肠道上皮屏障功能并减轻炎症反应。此外，对人类粪便样本的宏基因组学分析显示，IBD患者的微生物利用粘蛋白和代谢色氨酸的遗传能力降低。我们的数据表明，刺激IA产生可促进抗炎反应并具有治疗益处。