Microbial degradation of complex carbohydrates in the gut

Bacteria that colonize the mammalian intestine collectively possess a far larger repertoire of degradative enzymes and metabolic capabilities than their hosts. Microbial fermentation of complex non-digestible dietary carbohydrates and host–derived glycans in the human intestine has important consequ...

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Main Authors: Harry J. Flint, Karen P. Scott, Sylvia H. Duncan, Petra Louis, Evelyne Forano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2012-07-01
Series:Gut Microbes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.4161/gmic.19897
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author Harry J. Flint
Karen P. Scott
Sylvia H. Duncan
Petra Louis
Evelyne Forano
author_facet Harry J. Flint
Karen P. Scott
Sylvia H. Duncan
Petra Louis
Evelyne Forano
author_sort Harry J. Flint
collection DOAJ
description Bacteria that colonize the mammalian intestine collectively possess a far larger repertoire of degradative enzymes and metabolic capabilities than their hosts. Microbial fermentation of complex non-digestible dietary carbohydrates and host–derived glycans in the human intestine has important consequences for health. Certain dominant species, notably among the Bacteroidetes, are known to possess very large numbers of genes that encode carbohydrate active enzymes and can switch readily between different energy sources in the gut depending on availability. Nevertheless, more nutritionally specialized bacteria appear to play critical roles in the community by initiating the degradation of complex substrates such as plant cell walls, starch particles and mucin. Examples are emerging from the Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobium phyla, but more information is needed on these little studied groups. The impact of dietary carbohydrates, including prebiotics, on human health requires understanding of the complex relationship between diet composition, the gut microbiota and metabolic outputs.
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spelling doaj-art-1f18a956279d4a2a80f8b520741b7cca2024-11-12T15:48:07ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGut Microbes1949-09761949-09842012-07-013428930610.4161/gmic.19897Microbial degradation of complex carbohydrates in the gutHarry J. Flint0Karen P. Scott1Sylvia H. Duncan2Petra Louis3Evelyne Forano4Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health; University of Aberdeen; Bucksburn, Aberdeen UKRowett Institute of Nutrition and Health; University of Aberdeen; Bucksburn, Aberdeen UKRowett Institute of Nutrition and Health; University of Aberdeen; Bucksburn, Aberdeen UKRowett Institute of Nutrition and Health; University of Aberdeen; Bucksburn, Aberdeen UKINRA; UR454 Microbiologie; Saint-Genès Champanelle, FranceBacteria that colonize the mammalian intestine collectively possess a far larger repertoire of degradative enzymes and metabolic capabilities than their hosts. Microbial fermentation of complex non-digestible dietary carbohydrates and host–derived glycans in the human intestine has important consequences for health. Certain dominant species, notably among the Bacteroidetes, are known to possess very large numbers of genes that encode carbohydrate active enzymes and can switch readily between different energy sources in the gut depending on availability. Nevertheless, more nutritionally specialized bacteria appear to play critical roles in the community by initiating the degradation of complex substrates such as plant cell walls, starch particles and mucin. Examples are emerging from the Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobium phyla, but more information is needed on these little studied groups. The impact of dietary carbohydrates, including prebiotics, on human health requires understanding of the complex relationship between diet composition, the gut microbiota and metabolic outputs.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.4161/gmic.19897dietary fiberhuman intestinemicrobiotanutritionpolysaccharidesprebiotics
spellingShingle Harry J. Flint
Karen P. Scott
Sylvia H. Duncan
Petra Louis
Evelyne Forano
Microbial degradation of complex carbohydrates in the gut
Gut Microbes
dietary fiber
human intestine
microbiota
nutrition
polysaccharides
prebiotics
title Microbial degradation of complex carbohydrates in the gut
title_full Microbial degradation of complex carbohydrates in the gut
title_fullStr Microbial degradation of complex carbohydrates in the gut
title_full_unstemmed Microbial degradation of complex carbohydrates in the gut
title_short Microbial degradation of complex carbohydrates in the gut
title_sort microbial degradation of complex carbohydrates in the gut
topic dietary fiber
human intestine
microbiota
nutrition
polysaccharides
prebiotics
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.4161/gmic.19897
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AT sylviahduncan microbialdegradationofcomplexcarbohydratesinthegut
AT petralouis microbialdegradationofcomplexcarbohydratesinthegut
AT evelyneforano microbialdegradationofcomplexcarbohydratesinthegut