AUTHOR=Li Baiyuan , Chen Huahai , Cao Linyan , Hu Yunfei , Chen Dan , Yin Yeshi 

TITLE=Escherichia coli Exopolysaccharides Induced by Ceftriaxone Regulated Human Gut Microbiota in vitro

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.634204

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2021.634204

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>A stable intestinal microflora is an essential prerequisite for human health. This study investigated the interaction between <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> exopolysaccharides (named EPS-m2) and the human gut microbiota (HGM) <italic>in vitro</italic>. The EPS-m2 was produced by <italic>E</italic>. <italic>coli</italic> WM3064 when treated with ceftriaxone. The monosaccharide composition analysis revealed that EPS-m2 is composed of glucuronic acid, glucose, fucose, galactose/N-acetyl glucosamine, arabinose, xylose, and ribose with a molar ratio of approximately 77:44:29:28:2:1:1. The carbohydrates, protein, and uronic acids contents in EPS-m2 was 78.6 ± 0.1%, 4.38 ± 0.11%, and 3.86 ± 0.09%, respectively. I<italic>n vitro</italic> batch fermentation experiments showed that 77% of EPS-m2 could be degraded by human fecal microbiota after 72 h of fermentation. In reverse, 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis showed that EPS-m2 increased the abundance of <italic>Alistipes</italic>, <italic>Acinetobacter</italic>, <italic>Alloprevotella</italic>, <italic>Howardella</italic>, and <italic>Oxalobacter</italic>; GC detection illustrated that EPS-m2 enhanced the production of SCFAs. These findings indicated that EPS-m2 supplementation could regulate the HGM and might facilitate modulation of human health.</p>