Degradation of mucin O-glycans by a human gut symbiont requires a complex enzyme repertoire and promotes colonization
Sadie R. Schaus, Chunsheng Jin, Grete Raba, Gabriel Vasconcelos Pereira, Rajneesh K. Bains, Carmen R. Cori, María-José García-Bonete, Marcus Nilsson, Naba D. Salman, Nicholas A. Pudlo, Qinnan Yang, Jining Liu, Jan Holgersson, Stephen G. Withers, Rachel Hevey, , Ana S. Luis
This study identifies the enzymatic pathway used by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron to degrade colonic mucin O-glycans and shows that multiple exo-acting enzymes are critical for gut colonization.
bioRxiv · Mar 26, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology