Bacteroides uniformis is a Gram-negative, obligate anaerobicbacterium commonly isolated from human feces. Species of the genus Bacteroides contribute to gut stability by breaking down complex polysaccharides into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are essential for gut health, immune modulation, and energy metabolism.[2][3]
Bacteroides uniformis is rod-shaped and possesses an outer membrane that contains lipopolysaccharides. Unlike many other Gram-negative bacteria, the LPS of B.uniformis has relatively low endotoxic potential, contributing to reduced inflammatory responses. Its genome includes numerous carbohydrate-active enzymes that enable it to degrade polysaccharides, host-derived glycans, and mucins. This metabolic versatility allows B.uniformis to efficiently access nutrients in the gut environment.[4][unreliable source?]
Functions
Studies involving oral administration of B. uniformis to mice fed a high-fat diet have shown an 18% reduction in serum cholesterol levels and decreased cholesterol accumulation in the liver. However, other species in the genus, such as Bacteroides fragilis, have been implicated in abscess formation in mice, indicating that not all members of this genus are entirely safe for therapeutic use.[5]
B. uniformis has also been observed to reduce allergen uptake and restore fecal immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels when colonizing the gut. Additionally, it has a positive association with insoluble dietary fiber. In experimental mouse models, colonization with B. uniformis helped reduce weight gain and mitigated pathology associated with metabolic disease.[5]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
