Bile acids as modulators of gut microbiota composition and function

ABSTRACT

Changes in the composition of gut-associated microbial communities are associated with many human illnesses, but the factors driving dysbiosis remain incompletely understood. One factor governing the microbiota composition in the gut is bile. Bile acids shape the microbiota composition through their antimicrobial activity and by activating host signaling pathways that maintain gut homeostasis. Although bile acids are host-derived, their functions are integrally linked to bacterial metabolism, which shapes the composition of the intestinal bile acid pool. Conditions that change the size or composition of the bile acid pool can trigger alterations in the microbiota composition that exacerbate inflammation or favor infection with opportunistic pathogens. Therefore, manipulating the composition or size of the bile acid pool might be a promising strategy to remediate dysbiosis.

KEYWORDS:

• Bile acids
• microbiome
• intestinal homeostasis
• colonization resistance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Work in A.J.B.’s laboratory was supported by Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America Award 650976 and by Public Health Service Grants AI044170, AI096528, AI112445, AI112949, AI146432, and AI153069.