Gut Bacteria Involved in Ellagic Acid Metabolism To Yield Human Urolithin Metabotypes Revealed

We aimed to elucidate the gut bacteria that characterize the human urolithin metabotypes A and B (UM-A and UM B). We report here a new bacterium isolated from the feces of a healthy woman, capable of producing the final metabolites urolithins A and B and different intermediates. Besides, we describe two gut bacterial co-cultures that reproduced the urolithin formation pathways upon in vitro fermentation of both UM-A and UM-B. This is the first time that the capacity of pure strains to metabolize ellagic acid cooperatively to yield urolithin profiles associated with UM-A and UM-B has been demonstrated. The urolithinproducing bacteria described herein could have potential as novel probiotics and in the industrial manufacture of bioactive urolithins to develop new ingredients, beverages, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and (or) functional foods. This is especially relevant in UM-0 individuals since they cannot produce bioactive urolithins.

Automated summary

We discovered a new bacterium in the feces of a healthy woman that can produce urolithins A and B as well as intermediate metabolites. Additionally, we developed co-culture systems that reproduced the production of urolithins upon fermentation of UM-A and UM-B. This finding demonstrates the potential of these urolithin-producing bacteria for use as probiotics and in the production of bioactive urolithins for various applications.