Interindividual differences in response to treatment with butyrate-producing Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum 25–3T studied in an in vitro gut model

• Published in: FEMS microbiology ecology 2015-06, Vol.91 (6)
• Main Authors: Geirnaert, Annelies, Wang, Jun, Tinck, Magali, Steyaert, Alix, Van den Abbeele, Pieter, Eeckhaut, Venessa, Vilchez-Vargas, Ramiro, Falony, Gwen, Laukens, Debby, De Vos, Martine, Van Immerseel, Filip, Raes, Jeroen, Boon, Nico, Van de Wiele, Tom
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Bacteria; Base Sequence; Butyrates - metabolism; Clostridium - genetics; Clostridium - metabolism; Colon; Colon - microbiology; Computer simulation; Dysbacteriosis; Dysbiosis - prevention & control; Ecology; Ecosystem assessment; Feces - microbiology; Gastrointestinal diseases; Gene sequencing; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Inflammatory bowel diseases; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - microbiology; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - therapy; Inflammatory diseases; Intestine; Male; Microbiology; Microbiota; Microbiota - genetics; Microorganisms; Mucus; Probiotics; Probiotics - therapeutic use; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; rRNA 16S; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Supplements; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1574-6941; 0168-6496; 1574-6941
• DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiv054

Butyrate-producing bacteria are promising probiotic candidates to target microbial dysbiosis in gastrointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel diseases. Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum 25–3T, a butyrate-producing clostridial cluster IV strain, is such a candidate. Little is known about its abundance in the colon microbiota and its butyrogenic properties. We used the M-SHIME®, an in vitro simulator for the human intestinal microbial ecosystem, to study the effect of supplementing a single dose of B. pullicaecorum 25–3T on lumen- and mucus-associated microbiota of eight individuals. Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum was more abundant in mucus-associated microbiota compared with lumen microbiota. Supplementation with a single dose of B. pullicaecorum 25–3T resulted in a temporary increase in B. pullicaecorum bacteria in lumen compartment of all individuals. In two cases, the responders, an increased butyrate production was observed as compared with the control. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed the microbiota of responders to be different as compared to non-responder microbiota. We can conclude that B. pullicaecorum 25–3T is a mucus-associated bacterium whose potency to stimulate butyrate production is characterized by a large interindividual variability in terms of composition of the receiving microbial community. Butyrate-producing bacteria are promising probiotic candidates to maintain gastrointestinal health. Here, the behavior and butyrogenic effect of such a candidate was assessed in a model for the gut microbiota.