N. A. Pudlo

Phenotypic and genomic diversification in complex carbohydrate degrading human gut bacteria

The paper identifies genomic and phenotypic diversity in carbohydrate-degrading gut bacteria, showing variation in substrate utilization and evidence of gene transfer shaping metabolic capabilities.

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.

A single bacterial sulfatase is required for metabolism of colonic mucin O-glycans and intestinal colonization by a symbiotic human gut bacterium

This study identifies a single sulfatase essential for colonic mucin O-glycan metabolism and intestinal colonization by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.

Extensive transfer of genes for edible seaweed digestion from marine to human gut bacteria

The paper shows gut bacteria have extensively adapted to digest seaweed polysaccharides through gene transfer from marine bacteria, revealing widespread metabolic plasticity in the human gut microbiome.