The impact of butyrate on group B Streptococcus -induced intestinal barrier disruption

Group B Streptococcus ( ; GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal sepsis worldwide. As a pathobiont of the intestinal tract, it is capable of translocating across barriers leading to invasive disease. Neonatal susceptibility to invasive disease stems from immature intestinal barriers. GBS intestinal col...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inInfection and immunity Vol. 92; no. 10; p. e0020024
Main Authors Dominguez, Kristen, Pearah, Alexia N, Lindon, April K, Worthington, Leigh-Anne M, Carter, Rico R, John-Lewis Edwards, Nichol, Ho, Thao T B, Darch, Sophie E, Randis, Tara M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States American Society for Microbiology 15.10.2024
Subjects
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

Loading…
More Information
Summary:Group B Streptococcus ( ; GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal sepsis worldwide. As a pathobiont of the intestinal tract, it is capable of translocating across barriers leading to invasive disease. Neonatal susceptibility to invasive disease stems from immature intestinal barriers. GBS intestinal colonization induces major transcriptomic changes in the intestinal epithelium related to barrier function. Butyrate, a microbial metabolite produced by fermentation of dietary fiber, bolsters intestinal barrier function against enteric pathogens, and these effects can be transferred via the placenta to the developing fetus. Our aim was to determine if butyrate mitigates GBS disruption of intestinal barriers. We used human intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) lines to evaluate the impact of butyrate on GBS-induced cell death and GBS adhesion and invasion. IECs and human fetal tissue-derived enteroids were used to evaluate monolayer permeability. We evaluated the impact of maternal butyrate treatment (mButyrate) using our established mouse model of neonatal GBS intestinal colonization and late-onset sepsis. We found that butyrate reduces GBS-induced cell death, GBS invasion, monolayer permeability, and translocation . In mice, mButyrate decreases GBS intestinal burden in offspring. Our results demonstrate the importance of bacterial metabolites, such as butyrate, in their potential to bolster epithelial barrier function and mitigate neonatal sepsis risk.IMPORTANCEGroup B (GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. It is a commensal of the intestines that can translocate across barriers leading to sepsis in vulnerable newborns. With the rise in antibiotic-resistant strains and no licensed vaccine, there is an urgent need for preventative strategies. Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid metabolized in the gut, enhances barrier function against pathogens. Importantly, butyrate is transferred , conferring these benefits to infants. Here, we demonstrate that butyrate reduces GBS colonization and epithelial invasion. These effects were not microbiome-driven, suggesting butyrate directly impacts epithelial barrier function. Our results highlight the potential impact of maternal dietary metabolites, like butyrate, as a strategy to mitigate neonatal sepsis risk.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:0019-9567
1098-5522
1098-5522
DOI:10.1128/iai.00200-24