Project Details
Projekt
Molecular characterization of inter-species cross-feeding within the human gut microbiome
Applicant
Professor Dr. Till Strowig
Subject Area
Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
Term
since 2025
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 564324123
The human gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem influenced by factors such as diet and host health, with its composition closely linked to essential functions like nutrient assimilation and disease resilience. Within this ecosystem, bacteria from the Prevotellaceae and Bacteroidaceae families dominate, with their prevalence strongly shaped by dietary patterns. Specifically, Prevotellaceae, including Segatella copri, thrive in fiber-rich diets and are associated with greater microbial diversity. In contrast, Bacteroidaceae predominate in industrialized, Westernized diets, correlating with lower diversity and an increased risk of chronic diseases. Despite their importance, the intricate interactions between these bacterial groups and their functional roles in shaping community dynamics remain poorly understood. This research aims to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the adaptation of S. copri to its niche, its metabolic strategies, and its interactions within microbial communities. By leveraging recent advances in isolating and functionally characterizing S. copri strains, the study will investigate the metabolic diversity of S. copri, including its capacity to degrade various carbon sources. Additionally, microbial interactions in synthetic communities will be explored to understand the competition between S. copri and Bacteroidaceae. The application of transcriptomics and metabolomics will enable the reconstruction of metabolic pathways and the identification of nutrient competition and cross-feeding mechanisms. Furthermore, the impact of fiber-rich and fiber-poor diets on S. copri-centric microbial dynamics will be characterized in vivo. Loss-of-function experiments will target uncharacterized genes in S. copri to determine their roles in competition. These investigations will provide insights into the role of cross-feeding in defining the ecological niche of S. copri within the gut microbiome.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
