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Microbiome research: Kiel study reveals protective mechanism against infections!
The University of Kiel is using C. elegans to research the role of the microbiome in defending against infection - new insights into health.
Microbiome research: Kiel study reveals protective mechanism against infections!
The microbiome, a complex community of bacteria, viruses and fungi that live in and on multicellular organisms, has a critical influence on the health of the host. This particularly applies to the defense against pathogens. The Kiel Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 1182 at the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel is dedicated to researching the interactions between host organisms and microbes. In a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications was published, the role of the microbiome in the defense against pathogens was investigated, especially in model organismsCaenorhabditis elegans.
Researchers discovered that the bacterium of the genusPseudomonasin the intestinal microbiomeC. elegansSphingolipids are produced, which protect the host from infections. This finding is particularly noteworthy because the ability to produce sphingolipids was previously attributed to only a few bacterial phyla. The Pseudomonas bacterium uses an alternative metabolic pathway for sphingolipid production that differs significantly from known synthetic pathways.
Sphingolipids and their importance
The sphingolipids produced play an essential role in protecting the intestinal epithelium by improving the barrier function of intestinal cells. A specific biosynthetic gene cluster inPseudomonasis responsible for the production of these lipids. Interestingly, similar gene clusters have also been found in other intestinal bacteria, indicating a widespread ability to produce sphingolipids.
The protective mechanisms of sphingolipids work indirectly: during toxins from the pathogenBacillus thuringiensisCreating pores in the host's cell membrane, which facilitates the entry of other pathogens, strengthens the modified sphingolipid metabolismPseudomonasthe stability of the cell membranes in the host. These findings expand the understanding of how microbial metabolites can protect the host from pathogens.
The research in detail
The current study used a variety of scientific methods to investigate the genetic and metabolic basis of infection protection. Among other things, various strains ofC. elegansused and their ability to survive after infection withBacillus thuringiensisanalyzed. The survival rates were statistically evaluated to demonstrate the importance of the microbiome in protection against infection.
Another aspect that has been emphasized in the research is the analysis of sphingolipid composition inC. elegans. Studies have shown that sphingolipids play a role in diverse cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation and stress responses. These findings suggest that sphingolipids may also be important in disease development, such as diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases.
The interdisciplinary research at the Kiel Collaborative Research Center not only offers insights into how microbiomes function, but also perspectives for future therapeutic approaches to treating disorders in the human intestinal microbiome. The goal is to be able to better treat long-term disorders. This shows how important understanding microbiota has become in modern medicine.