University of British Columbia researchers have discovered
the genetic machinery that turns a common gut bacterium into the Swiss Army
knife of the digestive tract – helping us metabolize a main component of
dietary fibre from the cell walls of fruits and vegetables.
The findings illuminate the specialized roles played by key
members of the vast microbial community living in the human gut, and could
inform the development of tailored microbiota transplants to improve intestinal
health after antibiotic use or illness. The research is published today in the
journal Nature.