A commensal-derived sugar protects against obesity by regulating immunometabolism.
A bacterial exopolysaccharide containing phosphocholine from Clostridium immunis prevents obesity by modulating immune signals in mice.
- Why it matters: Obesity's rise is partly driven by microbiota-related factors that are not fully understood, limiting targeted interventions for metabolic diseases.
- What they did: Researchers identified and manipulated the phosphocholine biosynthesis locus (licABC) in C. immunis, demonstrating that its exopolysaccharide reduces visceral fat and IL-22 levels, which are linked to metabolic activity.
- The result: This bacterial molecule's structural motif offers a potential strategy to control obesity and visceral fat, with implications for human health given the reduced presence of phosphocholine biosynthesis genes in obese individuals.