Our lower gastrointestinal tract plays host to a vast consortium of microbes, known as the human gut microbiota (HGM). The HGM thrives on a complex and diverse range of glycan structures from both dietary and host sources, the breakdown of which requires the concerted action of cohorts of carbohydrate‐active enzymes (CAZymes), carbohydrate‐binding proteins, and transporters. The glycan utilization profile of individual taxa, whether ‘specialist’ or ‘generalist’, is dictated by the number and functional diversity of these glycan utilization systems. Furthermore, taxa in the HGM may either compete or cooperate in glycan deconstruction, thereby creating a complex ecological web spanning diverse nutrient niches. As a result, our diet plays a central role in shaping the composition of the HGM. This review presents an overview of our current understanding of glycan utilization by the HGM on three levels: (i) molecular mechanisms of individual glycan deconstruction and uptake by key bacteria, (ii) glycan‐mediated microbial interactions, and (iii) community‐scale effects of dietary changes. Despite significant recent advancements, there remains much to be discovered regarding complex glycan metabolism in the HGM and its potential to affect positive health outcomes.

中文翻译：

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共同生活：人类肠道菌群对聚糖的利用

我们的下消化道扮演着一个巨大的微生物联盟，即人类肠道菌群（HGM）。HGM依靠饮食和宿主来源的复杂多样的聚糖结构而蓬勃发展，其分解需要碳水化合物活性酶（CAZymes），碳水化合物结合蛋白和转运蛋白的协同作用。单个分类单元的聚糖利用概况，无论是“专家”还是“普通主义者”，均由这些聚糖利用系统的数量和功能多样性决定。此外，HGM中的类群可能在聚糖解构中竞争或合作，从而创建了一个涵盖各种营养位的复杂生态网络。因此，我们的饮食在塑造HGM的组成中起着核心作用。这篇综述从三个层面概述了我们目前对HGM对聚糖利用的了解：（i）单个聚糖解构和关键细菌吸收的分子机制，（ii）聚糖介导的微生物相互作用，以及（iii）社区规模饮食变化的影响。尽管最近取得了重大进展，但关于HGM中复杂的糖代谢及其影响积极健康结果的潜力仍有很多发现。