Exploring the complex interactions between gut microbes and mucus

Project Abstract: The human gastrointestinal tract houses a diverse community of commensal gut bacteria that actively participate in maintaining host health. Among the intricate and dynamic relationships within this ecosystem, the interaction of bacteria with mucus, a crucial protective barrier lining the gut, emerges as a vital and multifaceted process. Mucus, primarily composed of mucin glycoproteins, acts as a nutrient source and signaling platform, playing pivotal roles in microbe- host interactions. While it is well known that gut bacteria can degrade mucus and cross-feed non- mucus degrading microbes, the intricacies of this interaction remain largely unknown. Additionally, the ability of intestinal mucus to regulate bacterial communication is not clear and the reciprocal interaction of how bacteria regulate mucus production is not well understood. In many ways, we are only just beginning to understand how mucus influences bacterial ecology and bacterial-host interactions. This proposal addresses these challenges using the expertise of the Engevik lab, resources and reagents we have generated to study bacterial-host interactions, and the expertise of our collaborators. The overall goal of the research program is to unravel the intricate mechanisms by which commensal gut microbiota respond to mucus and stimulate mucus production by the host. The Engevik Lab opened at MUSC during the beginning of the pandemic. The Engevik lab pursues key questions: What bacterial compounds are a direct result of mucus degradation? How do bacteria grow in communities in the setting of intestinal mucus? What aspect of bacterial signaling does mucus regulate? What metabolites do bacteria produce to increase mucus production? Our multidisciplinary approach encompasses cutting-edge techniques in microbiology, metabolomics, transcriptomics, and host-microbe interaction studies to comprehensively address these questions and delve deeper into the bacterial ecology in the gut. Insights gleaned from this research have the potential to pave the way for innovative approaches to enhance gut health and mitigate diseases linked to disruptions in the gut microbiome. Ultimately, this investigation aligns with the NIH's mission to foster groundbreaking discoveries that promote human health and well-being.