Metabolic analysis of the regionally distinct gut microbial communities using an in vitro platform

Authors: Firrman, Jenni; Liu, Linshu; TANES, CEYLAN - Children'S Hospital - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; FRIEDMAN, ELLIOT - University Of Pennsylvania; BITTINGER, KYLE - Children'S Hospital - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; DANIEL, SCOTT - Children'S Hospital - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; VAN DEN ABBEELE, PIETER - Prodigest; EVANS, BRADLEY - Danforth Plant Science Center

Submitted to: Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/6/2019
Publication Date: 11/6/2019
Citation: Firrman, J., Liu, L.S., Tanes, C., Friedman, E., Bittinger, K., Daniel, S., Van Den Abbeele, P., Evans, B. 2019. Metabolic analysis of the regionally distinct gut microbial communities using an in vitro platform. Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences. Pages A-L. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.9b05202.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.9b05202

Interpretive Summary: The bacteria that live in the colon, known collectively as the gut microbiota, release many types of metabolites that are important to human health. In the body the colon is divided into different regions with each region having a unique gut microbiota. However, the differences and similarities between the metabolites produced by each colon region was unknown. Using advanced methods from the field of chemistry, metabolites produced by the gut microbiota in the different regions of the colon were measured and compared. The results found that the types and amounts of metabolites produced depended on where in the colon the gut microbiota was located and was highly reliant on the genes the bacteria contained. In conclusion, this work shows that different gut microbiota communities produce different types and amounts of metabolites. This is important to understanding the function of the gut microbiota and how it is connected to human health.

Technical Abstract: The colon gut microbiota is responsible for complex chemical conversions of nutrients and subsequent release of metabolites that have diverse biological consequences. However, information on the metabolic dynamics that occur longitudinally through the colon is limited. Here, gas and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry were applied to generate metabolic profiles of the region-specific microbial communities cultured using an in vitro platform simulating the ascending (AC), transverse (TC), and descending (DC) colon regions. Comparative analysis revealed a large divergence between metabolic profiles of the AC to the TC and DC regions in terms of short chain fatty acid production, metabolic spectrum, and conversion of bile acids. Metagenomic evaluation revealed that the regionally derived metabolic profiles had strong correlation to community composition and genetic potential. Together, the results provide key insights regarding the metabolic divergence of the regional communities that are integral to understanding the structure-function relationship of the gut microbiota.