In Silico and in Vitro Targeting of Healthy Gut Bacteria With Fiber Degrading Metabolic Potential

Since two decades, numerous studies have been performed to better understand the role of the gut microbiota in health and disease. An imbalance in the intestinal microbiota, known as dysbiosis, is frequently described as a cause of many chronic diseases and metabolic dysfunctions in humans. Among the factors that play an important role in maintaining this balance, diet plays a predominant role. More specifically, the consumption of fruit, vegetables and cereals is associated with good health and, in particular, with an increase in the relative abundance of bacterial groups described as beneficial. Modulating the intestinal microbiota via the or directly by providing these beneficial bacteria (next generation probiotics NGPs) is therefore a possible promising approach for the prevention and/or treatment of pathologies. To date, a large number of bacterial species in the intestinal microbiota have yet to be isolated and cultivated, which limits the characterization of their potential health benefits. Having strains that can be isolated and cultured is an essential step in phenotyping and characterization. In order to isolate and cultivate these intestinal bacteria, it is particularly important to recruit individuals with a high-fiber diet. In this context, a positive selection of donors, based on their dietary profiles highly enriched in fiber, is essential. In this study, the aim is to identify in silico unprecedented potentially new beneficial gut bacteria, and isolate, culture and characterize these bacterial species for their potential. This will be an innovative approach, using culturomics tools guided by metagenomics to isolate them. To do this, the fecal samples of 10 healthy volunteers will be collected with a regular and diversified intake of fruit, vegetables and cereals, which encourage the growth of beneficial micro-organisms and increase the richness of the intestinal microbiota.