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Lachnospira

Lachnospira is a genus of anaerobic bacteria that is a part of the human gut microbiota. Lachnospira is one of the best known members of the Lachnospiraceae family, a group of microbes with the unique ability to produce butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid crucial for maintaining gut health and integrity.1Vital M, Karch A, Pieper DH. Colonic Butyrate-Producing Communities in Humans: an Overview Using Omics Data. mSystems. 2017 Dec 5;2(6):e00130-17. doi: 10.1128/mSystems.00130-17.

Roles of Flavonifractor species in human health

  1. Metabolism of flavonoids: Flavonifractor species can metabolise certain flavonoids, which are compounds found in plants that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.2Ivey KL, Chan AT, Izard J, Cassidy A, Rogers GB, Rimm EB. Role of Dietary Flavonoid Compounds in Driving Patterns of Microbial Community Assembly. mBio. 2019;10(5):e01205-19. Published 2019 Sep 24. doi: 10.1128/mBio.01205-19.3Yang G, Hong S, Yang P, et al. Discovery of an ene-reductase for initiating flavone and flavonol catabolism in gut bacteria. Nat Commun. 2021;12(1):790. Published 2021 Feb 4. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-20974-2.4Thomsen M, Tuukkanen A, Dickerhoff J, et al. Structure and catalytic mechanism of the evolutionarily unique bacterial chalcone isomerase. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2015;71(Pt 4):907-917. doi: 10.1107/S1399004715001935.
  2. Butyrate production: Lachnospira species contribute to the production of the short-chain fatty acid butyrate, which plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of the gut lining and contributing to health both within and beyond the gut.5Hodgkinson K, El Abbar F, Dobranowski P, Manoogian J, Butcher J, Figeys D, Mack D, Stintzi A. Butyrate’s role in human health and the current progress towards its clinical application to treat gastrointestinal disease. Clin Nutr. 2023 Feb;42(2):61-75. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2022.10.024.6Cheng X, Zhou T, He Y, Xie Y, Xu Y, Huang W. The role and mechanism of butyrate in the prevention and treatment of diabetic kidney disease. Front Microbiol. 2022 Aug 9;13:961536. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.961536.7Bourassa MW, Alim I, Bultman SJ, Ratan RR. Butyrate, neuroepigenetics and the gut microbiome: Can a high fiber diet improve brain health? Neurosci Lett. 2016 Jun 20;625:56-63. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.02.009.8Siddiqui MT, Cresci GAM. The Immunomodulatory Functions of Butyrate. J Inflamm Res. 2021 Nov 18;14:6025-6041. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S300989. People living with certain conditions, e.g. Parkinson’s9Nuzum ND, Szymlek-Gay EA, Loke S, Dawson SL, Teo WP, Hendy AM, Loughman A, Macpherson H. Differences in the gut microbiome across typical ageing and in Parkinson’s disease. Neuropharmacology. 2023 Sep 1;235:109566. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109566.
  3. Systemic health: As an important butyrate producer, Lachnospira is associated with positive outcomes in a range of health conditions, from mood disorders via the gut-brain connection, e.g. depression and anxiety, to gastrointestinal health.10Yu S, Wang L, Jing X, Wang Y, An C. Features of gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in patients with first-episode depression and their relationship with the clinical symptoms. Front Psychol. 2023 Apr 24;14:1088268. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1088268.

Best sources of Flavonifractor

Flavonifractor species naturally inhabit the human gut and can be promoted by a fibre-rich diet. No food sources of Flavonifractor are available at present. Specialised Flavonifractor probiotic supplements based on Flavonifractor plautii are currently being investigated in pre-clinical studies.11Mikami A, Ogita T, Namai F, Shigemori S, Sato T, Shimosato T. Oral Administration of Flavonifractor plautii, a Bacteria Increased With Green Tea Consumption, Promotes Recovery From Acute Colitis in Mice via Suppression of IL-17. Front Nutr. 2021 Feb 4;7:610946. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2020.610946.12Mikami A, Ogita T, Namai F, Shigemori S, Sato T, Shimosato T. Oral administration of Flavonifractor plautii attenuates inflammatory responses in obese adipose tissue. Mol Biol Rep. 2020 Sep;47(9):6717-6725. doi: 10.1007/s11033-020-05727-6.

What foods can Flavonifractor feed on?

Lachnospira species appear to thrive on a fibre-rich, polyphenol-rich diet. People who adhere to a Mediterranean diet and lifestyle have a higher abundance of Lachnospira compared to those on a typical Western diet.13Godny L, Reshef L, Sharar Fischler T, Elial-Fatal S, Pfeffer-Gik T, Raykhel B, Rabinowitz K, Levi-Barda A, Perets TT, Barkan R, Goren I, Ollech JE, Yanai H, Gophna U, Dotan I. Increasing adherence to the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle is associated with reduced fecal calprotectin and intra-individual changes in microbial composition of healthy subjects. Gut Microbes. 2022 Jan-Dec;14(1):2120749. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2022.2120749.14Shikany JM, Demmer RT, Johnson AJ, Fino NF, Meyer K, Ensrud KE, Lane NE, Orwoll ES, Kado DM, Zmuda JM, Langsetmo L; Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Research Group. Association of dietary patterns with the gut microbiota in older, community-dwelling men. Am J Clin Nutr. 2019 Oct 1;110(4):1003-1014. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz174.15Corrêa TAF, Rogero MM, Hassimotto NMA, Lajolo FM. The Two-Way Polyphenols-Microbiota Interactions and Their Effects on Obesity and Related Metabolic Diseases. Front Nutr. 2019 Dec 20;6:188. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2019.00188.16Anand David AV, Arulmoli R, Parasuraman S. Overviews of Biological Importance of Quercetin: A Bioactive Flavonoid. Pharmacogn Rev. 2016 Jul-Dec;10(20):84-89. doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.194044.

Where to find Flavonifractor in the Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test

You will find your Flavonifractor score in the “Butyrate” section of the “Postbiotics” report in your Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test results.

Synonyms: Flavonifractor species don’t have any well-recognised synonyms, but they are often categorised along with Pseudoflavonifractor, a closely related bacterium when discussed in the context of gut health.

Version and date: Version 1. 25th September 2023

Author: Dr Miguel Toribio-Mateas BSc (Hons) MSc DProf MRSB

Important disclaimer

The Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Handbook is an educational resource built to translate complex science into plain English. The information provided on this page is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Always check with your GP for interactions.

References

  • 1
    Vital M, Karch A, Pieper DH. Colonic Butyrate-Producing Communities in Humans: an Overview Using Omics Data. mSystems. 2017 Dec 5;2(6):e00130-17. doi: 10.1128/mSystems.00130-17.
  • 2
    Ivey KL, Chan AT, Izard J, Cassidy A, Rogers GB, Rimm EB. Role of Dietary Flavonoid Compounds in Driving Patterns of Microbial Community Assembly. mBio. 2019;10(5):e01205-19. Published 2019 Sep 24. doi: 10.1128/mBio.01205-19.
  • 3
    Yang G, Hong S, Yang P, et al. Discovery of an ene-reductase for initiating flavone and flavonol catabolism in gut bacteria. Nat Commun. 2021;12(1):790. Published 2021 Feb 4. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-20974-2.
  • 4
    Thomsen M, Tuukkanen A, Dickerhoff J, et al. Structure and catalytic mechanism of the evolutionarily unique bacterial chalcone isomerase. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2015;71(Pt 4):907-917. doi: 10.1107/S1399004715001935.
  • 5
    Hodgkinson K, El Abbar F, Dobranowski P, Manoogian J, Butcher J, Figeys D, Mack D, Stintzi A. Butyrate’s role in human health and the current progress towards its clinical application to treat gastrointestinal disease. Clin Nutr. 2023 Feb;42(2):61-75. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2022.10.024.
  • 6
    Cheng X, Zhou T, He Y, Xie Y, Xu Y, Huang W. The role and mechanism of butyrate in the prevention and treatment of diabetic kidney disease. Front Microbiol. 2022 Aug 9;13:961536. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.961536.
  • 7
    Bourassa MW, Alim I, Bultman SJ, Ratan RR. Butyrate, neuroepigenetics and the gut microbiome: Can a high fiber diet improve brain health? Neurosci Lett. 2016 Jun 20;625:56-63. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.02.009.
  • 8
    Siddiqui MT, Cresci GAM. The Immunomodulatory Functions of Butyrate. J Inflamm Res. 2021 Nov 18;14:6025-6041. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S300989.
  • 9
    Nuzum ND, Szymlek-Gay EA, Loke S, Dawson SL, Teo WP, Hendy AM, Loughman A, Macpherson H. Differences in the gut microbiome across typical ageing and in Parkinson’s disease. Neuropharmacology. 2023 Sep 1;235:109566. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109566.
  • 10
    Yu S, Wang L, Jing X, Wang Y, An C. Features of gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in patients with first-episode depression and their relationship with the clinical symptoms. Front Psychol. 2023 Apr 24;14:1088268. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1088268.
  • 11
    Mikami A, Ogita T, Namai F, Shigemori S, Sato T, Shimosato T. Oral Administration of Flavonifractor plautii, a Bacteria Increased With Green Tea Consumption, Promotes Recovery From Acute Colitis in Mice via Suppression of IL-17. Front Nutr. 2021 Feb 4;7:610946. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2020.610946.
  • 12
    Mikami A, Ogita T, Namai F, Shigemori S, Sato T, Shimosato T. Oral administration of Flavonifractor plautii attenuates inflammatory responses in obese adipose tissue. Mol Biol Rep. 2020 Sep;47(9):6717-6725. doi: 10.1007/s11033-020-05727-6.
  • 13
    Godny L, Reshef L, Sharar Fischler T, Elial-Fatal S, Pfeffer-Gik T, Raykhel B, Rabinowitz K, Levi-Barda A, Perets TT, Barkan R, Goren I, Ollech JE, Yanai H, Gophna U, Dotan I. Increasing adherence to the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle is associated with reduced fecal calprotectin and intra-individual changes in microbial composition of healthy subjects. Gut Microbes. 2022 Jan-Dec;14(1):2120749. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2022.2120749.
  • 14
    Shikany JM, Demmer RT, Johnson AJ, Fino NF, Meyer K, Ensrud KE, Lane NE, Orwoll ES, Kado DM, Zmuda JM, Langsetmo L; Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Research Group. Association of dietary patterns with the gut microbiota in older, community-dwelling men. Am J Clin Nutr. 2019 Oct 1;110(4):1003-1014. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz174.
  • 15
    Corrêa TAF, Rogero MM, Hassimotto NMA, Lajolo FM. The Two-Way Polyphenols-Microbiota Interactions and Their Effects on Obesity and Related Metabolic Diseases. Front Nutr. 2019 Dec 20;6:188. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2019.00188.
  • 16
    Anand David AV, Arulmoli R, Parasuraman S. Overviews of Biological Importance of Quercetin: A Bioactive Flavonoid. Pharmacogn Rev. 2016 Jul-Dec;10(20):84-89. doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.194044.

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