Gut microbiota utilize immunoglobulin A for mucosal colonization

• DOI: 10.1126/science.aaq0926
• Publication Date: 2018-05-03T18:07:17Z
• Authors: G. P. Donaldson; M. S. Ladinsky; K. B. Yu; J. G. Sanders; B. B. Yoo; W.-C. Chou; M. E. Conner; A. M. Earl; R. Knight; P. J. Bjorkman; S. K. Mazmanian
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 570; General Science & Technology; Cells; 1.1 Normal biological development and functioning; 610; Autoimmune Disease; Oral and gastrointestinal; Bacterial Adhesion; Bacteroides fragilis; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Bacterial Proteins; Polysaccharides; Underpinning research; 2.2 Factors relating to the physical environment; 2.1 Biological and endogenous factors; Animals; Humans; Aetiology; Intestinal Mucosa; Symbiosis; Cells, Cultured; Cultured; Polysaccharides, Bacterial; Bacterial; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Immunoglobulin A; 3. Good health; Digestive Diseases; Infection

Benign colonization of the gut

Microbial communities in the gut can be highly individual. What engenders this specificity? The gut characteristically produces gram quantities of immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody, which is presumed to protect the gut from pathogen attack. Donaldson et al. engineered strains of Bacteroides fragilis , a common human commensal, to modify its surface capsule, which affects its ability to colonize the germ-free mouse gut. Capsule changes altered the capacity of IgA to bind to the different mutants. It seems that this commensal species exploits IgA sticking power specifically to give it a competitive edge and to promote its establishment in the gut.

Science , this issue p. 795