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Sucrose-preferring gut microbes prevent host obesity by producing exopolysaccharides

Author

Listed:
  • Hidenori Shimizu

    (Sakyo-ku
    Muko-shi)

  • Junki Miyamoto

    (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology)

  • Keiko Hisa

    (Muko-shi)

  • Ryuji Ohue-Kitano

    (Sakyo-ku
    Sakyo-ku)

  • Hiromi Takada

    (Sakyo-ku
    Sakyo-ku)

  • Mayu Yamano

    (Sakyo-ku)

  • Akari Nishida

    (Sakyo-ku)

  • Daiki Sasahara

    (Sakyo-ku
    Muko-shi)

  • Yuki Masujima

    (Sakyo-ku)

  • Keita Watanabe

    (Sakyo-ku)

  • Shota Nishikawa

    (Sakyo-ku)

  • Sakura Takahashi

    (Sakyo-ku)

  • Takako Ikeda

    (Sakyo-ku
    Sakyo-ku)

  • Yuya Nakajima

    (Keio University, Shinjuku-ku)

  • Naofumi Yoshida

    (National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute)

  • Chiaki Matsuzaki

    (Ishikawa Prefectural University)

  • Takuya Kageyama

    (Kyoto University)

  • Ibuki Hayashi

    (Kyoto University)

  • Akari Matsuki

    (Hokkaido University
    The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP))

  • Ryo Akashi

    (Hokkaido University)

  • Seiichi Kitahama

    (Chibune General Hospital)

  • Masako Ueyama

    (Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association)

  • Takumi Murakami

    (Yata
    Institute of Science Tokyo)

  • Shinsuke Inuki

    (Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku)

  • Junichiro Irie

    (Keio University, Shinjuku-ku)

  • Noriko Satoh-Asahara

    (NHO Kyoto Medical Center)

  • Hirokazu Toju

    (Kyoto University
    Kyoto University)

  • Hiroshi Mori

    (Yata)

  • Shinji Nakaoka

    (Hokkaido University)

  • Tomoya Yamashita

    (Kobe University)

  • Atsushi Toyoda

    (Yata)

  • Kenji Yamamoto

    (Wakayama-shi)

  • Hiroaki Ohno

    (Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku
    Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development)

  • Takane Katayama

    (Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku)

  • Hiroshi Itoh

    (Keio University, Shinjuku-ku
    Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development)

  • Ikuo Kimura

    (Sakyo-ku
    Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
    Sakyo-ku
    Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development)

Abstract

Commensal bacteria affect host health by producing various metabolites from dietary carbohydrates via bacterial glycometabolism; however, the underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. Here, we identified Streptococcus salivarius as a unique anti-obesity commensal bacterium. We found that S. salivarius may prevent host obesity caused by excess sucrose intake via the exopolysaccharide (EPS) –short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) –carbohydrate metabolic axis in male mice. Healthy human donor-derived S. salivarius produced high EPS levels from sucrose but not from other sugars. S. salivarius abundance was significantly decreased in human donors with obesity compared with that in healthy donors, and the EPS–SCFA bacterial carbohydrate metabolic process was attenuated. Our findings reveal an important mechanism by which host–commensal interactions in glycometabolism affect energy regulation, suggesting an approach for preventing lifestyle-related diseases via prebiotics and probiotics by targeting bacteria and EPS metabolites.

Suggested Citation

  • Hidenori Shimizu & Junki Miyamoto & Keiko Hisa & Ryuji Ohue-Kitano & Hiromi Takada & Mayu Yamano & Akari Nishida & Daiki Sasahara & Yuki Masujima & Keita Watanabe & Shota Nishikawa & Sakura Takahashi , 2025. "Sucrose-preferring gut microbes prevent host obesity by producing exopolysaccharides," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56470-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56470-0
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