In Silico Analysis of the Small Molecule Content of Outer Membrane Vesicles Produced by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron Indicates an Extensive Metabolic Link between Microbe and Host

Stentz R., Bryant W. A., Le Gall G., Sternberg M. J. E., Wilhelm T., Carding S. R.. (2017)

Front. Microbiol, Volume 8, Article 2440

The interactions between the gut microbiota and its host are of central importance to the health of the host.  Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are produced ubiquitously by Gram-negative bacteria including the gut commensal Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (Bt); they can interact with the host in various ways, and contain a complement of small molecules that have hitherto not been investigated in detail.  We have measured these small molecules and by use of an expanded genome-scale metabolic model of Bt and its host (the mouse) we have established an array of potential metabolic interactions between the two organisms that were previously unknown. Not only does Bt pack OMVs with a remarkably consistent core set of small molecules, they are also highly enriched with mouse-digestible metabolites.  These findings uncover an important role for OMVs in the metabolic interactions between members of the microbiota and their host.

Front. Microbiol, Volume 8, Article 2440

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