Extracellular Vesicles Produced by Bifidobacterium longum Export Mucin-Binding Proteins
Keita Nishiyama, Takashi Takaki, Makoto Sugiyama, Itsuko Fukuda, Maho Aiso, Takao Mukai, Toshitaka Odamaki, Jin‐zhong Xiao, Ro Osawa, Nobuhiko Okada
Abstract
Bifidobacterium is a natural inhabitant of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Morphological observations revealed that extracellular appendages of bifidobacteria in complex microbial communities are important for understanding its adaptations to the GI tract environment. We identified dynamic extracellular vesicle (EV) production by Bifidobacterium longum in bacterium-free fecal fermentation broth that was strongly suggestive of differing bifidobacterial extracellular appendages in the GI tract. In addition, export of the adhesive moonlighting proteins mediated by EVs may promote bifidobacterial colonization. This study provides new insight into the roles of EVs in bifidobacterial colonization processes as these bacteria adapt to the GI environment.