Gut microbiome: meet Roseburia intestinalis — the energy-producing bacterium that helps us fight against disease

The tons of of species of microorganisms that comprise the microbiome all have totally different, distinctive roles.

One of many necessary capabilities that takes place within the intestine is the manufacturing of short-chain fatty acids. These molecules are derived from the fermentation of polysaccharides (a kind of carbohydrate) that are primarily present in starchy meals. These short-chain fatty acids are then utilized in a variety of processes – together with offering cells with the vitality they should develop and multiply and enabling communication between the intestine and the mind.

The intestine’s microbes primarily make three short-chain fatty acids: acetate, propionate and butyrate. Collectively, these present round 60% of all vitality utilized by the intestinal cells – and about 10% of our physique’s total calorie necessities.

Arguably, an important of those short-chain fatty acids is butyrate, which has been extensively studied as a consequence of its obvious hyperlinks to well being and illness.

Butyrate is the first supply of vitality used to create and preserve the mucus membrane that traces our digestive tract. This lining is significant for wholesome intestine operate, defending the physique from an infection and absorbing vitamins from the meals we eat.

One of many main producers of butyrate within the intestine is the bacterium Roseburia intestinalis.

Vitality manufacturing

R intestinalis lives in shut contact with the mucus membrane of our intestine cells and makes up simply over 2% of all the inhabitants of the human intestine microbiome. It creates butyrate from the polysaccharides we eat utilizing a particular kind of enzyme. Whereas it isn’t the one bacterium within the intestine that produces butyrate, R intestinalis is certainly one of its most considerable producers.

R intestinalis has been linked to many well being advantages, reminiscent of stopping irritation and restoring good bacterial stability within the microbiome.

This bacterium additionally appears to manage a few of the communication that occurs between the intestine and mind – and will even play a job in defending in opposition to some illnesses, reminiscent of Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis and each kind 1 and kind 2 diabetes.

These well being advantages are most likely because of the truth that the butyrate R intestinalis produces offers vitamins and vitality to different bacterial species who’ve extra specialised jobs within the intestine. Butyrate additionally helps regulate many facets of our immune system. It does this by means of selling or suppressing the manufacturing of key immune cells.

A lot of those discoveries of R intestinalis’s advantages are very current and extra analysis can be wanted to raised verify what particular roles this bacterium performs within the intestine, and the way precisely it enhances our personal struggle in opposition to illness.

Butyrate manufacturing may be extra complicated than it seems, with research discovering a hyperlink between low ranges of butyrate manufacturing and weight problems.

However given its key function in selling a wholesome intestine – alongside its wider results on the immune system and physique – it’s no marvel R intestinalis is beginning to be thought of as a possible probiotic. This is able to imply we might see it added to dietary supplements with a purpose to promote a more healthy microbiome sooner or later.

This text is a part of Meet Your Intestine Microbes, a collection in regards to the wealthy constellation of micro organism, viruses, archaea and fungi that stay in individuals’s digestive tracts. Scientists are more and more realising their significance in shaping our well being – each bodily and psychological. Every week we are going to have a look at a distinct microbe and convey you essentially the most up-to-date analysis on them.