Immunogenic Modification of Ligilactobacillus agilis by Specific Amino Acid Substitution of Flagellin

Abstract

The interactions between gut microbes and immune cells play an important role in the health and disease of hosts. Ligilactobacillus agilis is a flagellated commensal bacterium found in the gut of mammals and birds. However, the flagellin proteins of L. agilis are immunologically attenuated and barely induce TLR5-dependent inflammation, unlike the flagellins of several pathogenic bacteria.

The role of the glycome in symbiotic host-microbe interactions

“…Presently, it is not clear, however, whether the reduced TLR5 signalling strategy of commensal microbiota is due to the selection of specific primary structures of flagellin or selection of specific glycosylation patterns. There are some indications that immunological attenuation of flagellins in certain commensal microbiota is most likely achieved through specific amino acid substitutions in flagellin rather than its glycosylation ( Kajikawa et al 2022 ). More research is needed, however, to reveal the entire range of mechanisms that may include the glycome interaction between the host and commensal microbiota.…”