M. P. Ostrowski

Ruminococcus torques is a keystone degrader of intestinal mucin glycoprotein, releasing oligosaccharides used by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron

This study identifies Ruminococcus torques as a keystone mucin-degrading bacterium that releases oligosaccharides accessible to Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, linking its role to inflammatory bowel disease.

The Food Additive Xanthan Gum Drives Adaptation of the Human Gut Microbiota

This study shows that xanthan gum, a common food additive, promotes the adaptation of the human gut microbiota by enabling a novel degradation pathway in an uncultured Ruminococcaceae bacterium and facilitating cross-feeding by Bacteroides species.