Genomic and functional characterization of a mucosal symbiont involved in early-stage colorectal cancer.
Publication Title
Cell Host Microbe
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-13-2021
Keywords
washington; seattle; isb
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is a major health concern worldwide. Growing evidence for the role of the gut microbiota in the initiation of CRC has sparked interest in approaches that target these microorganisms. However, little is known about the composition and role of the microbiota associated with precancerous polyps. Here, we found distinct microbial signatures between patients with and without polyps and between polyp subtypes using sequencing and culturing techniques. We found a correlation between Bacteroides fragilis recovered and the level of inflammatory cytokines in the mucosa adjacent to the polyp. Additional analysis revealed that B. fragilis from patients with polyps are bft-negative, activate NF-κB through Toll-like receptor 4, induce a pro-inflammatory response, and are enriched in genes associated with LPS biosynthesis. This study provides fundamental insight into the microbial microenvironment of the pre-neoplastic polyp by highlighting strain-specific genomic and proteomic differences, as well as more broad compositional differences in the microbiome.
Area of Special Interest
Cancer
Area of Special Interest
Digestive Health
Specialty/Research Institute
Institute for Systems Biology
Specialty/Research Institute
Gastroenterology
Specialty/Research Institute
Oncology
