Gut microbes take their vitamins

Cell Host Microbe. 2014 Jan 15;15(1):5-6. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2013.12.011.

Abstract

The dense microbial ecosystem within the gut is connected through a complex web of metabolic interactions. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Degnan et al. (2014) establish the importance of different vitamin B12 transporters that help a Bacteroides species acquire vitamins from the environment to maintain a competitive edge.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics*
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / microbiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Genome, Bacterial*
  • Humans
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics*
  • Microbiota*
  • Vitamin B 12 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • BtuB protein, E coli
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Vitamin B 12