Isolation and characterization of a novel human intestinal Enterococcus faecium FUA027 capable of producing urolithin A from ellagic acid

Abstract

Urolithin A (UA) has received considerable research attention because of its health benefits. However, only a few strains have been reported to produce UA from ellagic acid (EA), and the molecular mechanisms underlying the gut microbiota-mediated transformation of ellagic acid into urolithin A is limited. In the present study, a single strain FUA027 capable of converting ellagic acid into UA in vitro was isolated from the fecal samples. The strain was identified as Enterococcus faecium through the morphological, physiological, biochemical and genetic tests. UA was produced at the beginning of the stationary phase and its levels peaked at 50 h, with the highest concentration being 10.80 μM. The strain Enterococcus faecium FUA027 is the first isolated strain of Enterococcus sp. producing urolithin A from ellagic acid, which may be developed as probiotics and used to explore molecular mechanisms underlying the biotransformation of ellagic acid into UA.

The dietary ellagitannin metabolite urolithin A is produced by a molybdenum-dependent dehydroxylase encoded by prevalent human gutEnteroclosterspp

“…However, we cannot conclude that they are solely responsible for this activity. Rare, strain-specific urolithin A production has been reported for Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum INIA P815 36 , Streptococcus thermophilus FUA329 58 , and Enterococcus faecium FUA027 58 , which may be a result of horizontal gene transfer since it is not shared by other members of the taxa. Thus, further enzyme discovery efforts are necessary to understand urolithin production in these bacteria.…”

(Poly)phenol-related gut metabotypes and human health: an update

“…Very few studies have reported strains involved in the metabolism of ellagic acid to urolithin A, including Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum INIA P815, Lactococcus garvieae FUA009, Enterococcus faecium FUA027 and Streptococcus thermophilus FUA329. 40,43,46,47 Among three metabotypes, UM0 showed the lowest diversity and richness of intestinal bacteria, while UMB had the highest richness at phylum and family level. 144 The higher richness of gut microbiome may explain why UMB produces more types of metabolites than UMA.…”

A Review of Gut Microbiota‐Derived Metabolites in Tumor Progression and Cancer Therapy

“…Enterococcus faecium FUA027 within the human intestine can produce UA, and this strain was successfully isolated. [ 180 ] If the metabolite‐producing microorganisms are found, they can be developed into probiotics. Furthermore, when completely understanding the process by which microorganisms produce metabolites, analogs of the intermediates and drugs targeting crucial enzymes in microbial metabolism can be designed.…”