Oscillospira and related bacteria – From metagenomic species to metabolic features

Abstract

Oscillospira is an under-studied anaerobic bacterial genus from Clostridial cluster IV that has resisted cultivation for over a century since the first time it was observed. In recent years its 16S rRNA gene was identified in several human gut microbiota studies where it was often associated with interesting traits, especially leanness. However, very little is known about its metabolism or physiology. Here we used nearly complete genomes derived from shot-gun metagenomic data from the human gut to analyze Oscillospira and related bacteria. We used sequence similarity, gene neighbourhood information and manual metabolic pathway curation to decipher key metabolic features of this intriguing bacterial genus. We infer that Oscillospira species are butyrate producers, and at least some of them have the ability to utilize glucuronate, a common animal-derived sugar that is both produced by the human host and consumed by that host in diets rich in animal products. These findings could help explain diet-related inter-individual variation in faecal Oscillospira levels as well as the observation that the presence of this genus is reduced in diseases that involve inflammation.

Insect-based diet, a promising nutritional source, modulates gut microbiota composition and SCFAs production in laying hens

“…Oscillospira is actually an enigmatic bacterial genus, butyrate producer that may contribute to the formation of secondary bile acids and known to prevent Clostridium difficile- associated infectious disease (CDAD) in humans 26,30,31 . Poultry represents a possible reservoir of C .…”

Yeast fermentate prebiotic improves intestinal barrier integrity during heat stress by modulation of the gut microbiota in rats

“…Essential impact of the EH on microbiota during heat stress is manifested in elevated number of beneficial bacteria ( Eubacterium, Lactococcus, Oscillospira, Roseburia, Vallitalea). Roseburia , Eubacterium and Oscillospira are butyrate‐producing bacterial genera, positively correlate with antioxidant activities and negatively correlate with inflammation (Gophna et al, ; Wang et al, ). Our results are consistent with previously in vitro study of Possemiers et al (), who showed that yeast fermentate induces butyrate production and possess anti‐inflammatory activity.…”

Microbial communities exhibit host species distinguishability and phylosymbiosis along the length of the gastrointestinal tract

“…The specific functions of the genus Oscillospira are unclear due to the fact that it has not been cultured (Konikoff & Gophna, ). In humans, relative abundances of this genus increase when individuals are feeding on animal‐based diets (David et al., ), and genome reconstruction from metagenomic analysis of the human gut microbiota suggests that human‐associated species of Oscillospira utilize host‐produced sugars (Gophna, Konikoff, & Nielsen, ). However, in other animals, the genus Oscillospira has been hypothesized to play roles in fibre fermentation, given its presence in the guts of many ruminants and other herbivores (Kohl & Dearing, ; Mackie et al., ).…”