To access sufficient taurine in the gut, however, Taurinivorans muris needs the help of other gut microbes to release it from bile acids. “By isolating the first taurine degrader in the mouse gut, we’re one step closer to understanding how these gut microbes mediate animal and human health” explains Huimin Ye, lead author of the study. In light of these findings, the discovery of a new gut microbe that feeds exclusively on taurine (aptly named Taurinivorans muris) is another piece of an exciting puzzle. Recent studies have found a link between taurine and healthy aging – it seems this nutrient may stave away age-related disease. Like hydrogen sulfide, taurine is implicated in a smorgasbord of physiological processes. SEM 1: Electron microscopy of Taurinivorans muris in pure culture. However, we get most of our taurine from our diets – especially meat, dairy, and seafood. “The bacterium we described has a rather unbalanced diet,” explains Loy, “it specializes in consuming taurine.” Taurine is a semi-essential amino acid, which we synthesize in small amounts in our liver. In the current study, researchers led by Alexander Loy at CeMESS, the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science of the University of Vienna, have discovered a new genus of hydrogen sulfide-producing bacteria in the mouse intestine. The bacterium Bilophila wadsworthia is one of the most important taurine utilizers in humans. Discovering the key players and processes that produce this noxious gas in our gut is a fundamental first step on the road to developing therapeutic interventions, for example, for inflammatory bowel disease. However, excessive levels can have negative consequences and have been associated with gut inflammation and damage to the intestinal lining.
Hydrogen sulfide-producing microbes in the gut may help “choke out” oxygen-dependent pathogens such as Klebsiella, making it harder for them to colonize.įISH: Fluorescence microscopy of Taurinivorans muris in pure culture. Having small amounts of hydrogen sulfide in the gut is a good thing in fact, it’s essential for a number of physiological processes, and can even protect against pathogens.
One of those ways is by contributing to the levels of hydrogen sulfide – the toxic gas responsible for foul-smelling flatulence. The gut microbiome mediates our health in a myriad of ways. The results are currently published today (September 18) in the journal Nature Communications. This is also true of Taurinivorans muris: the bacterium shows a protective function against Klebsiella and Salmonella, two important pathogens. The researchers have thus provided another building block in the understanding of those microbial processes that have fascinating effects on health. This discovery offers valuable insights into gut health and lays the groundwork for future therapeutic interventions.Īn international team of scientists led by microbiologist Alexander Loy from the University of Vienna has discovered a new intestinal microbe that feeds exclusively on taurine and produces the foul-smelling gas hydrogen sulfide. Taurine-Degrading Bacteria Influence Intestinal MicrobiomeĪ novel bacterium, Taurinivorans muris, which feeds on taurine and emits hydrogen sulfide, has been identified by researchers. The findings are integral to developing future microbiome-based therapies. The discovery provides insight into the roles of taurine and hydrogen sulfide in the gut, as well as their broader health implications. While hydrogen sulfide has protective properties against certain pathogens, excessive amounts can harm gut health. Scientists have discovered a new intestinal bacterium, Taurinivorans muris, which exclusively consumes taurine and produces hydrogen sulfide.
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