What does this bacterium look like?
Roseburia is a slightly curved rod of approximately 1 to 5 micrometers long. That is small when you know that 1,000 micrometers fit into one millimeter. Some species are motile because they have a flagellum. A flagellum is nothing more than a tail that rotates very quickly to propel the bacterium forward. This is similar to the propeller of a submarine. 😉
The name Roseburia honors Theodor Rosebury, a microbiologist who gathered a great deal of knowledge about the microbiome in the mouth. His book “Life on Man” is a nice summary of his work on micro-organisms on and in the human body. At Isala, we are eager to build on this by conducting research into “Life on Women” 😉
What does science already know about this bacterium?
Roseburia does not tolerate oxygen well and is therefore difficult to grow in the lab. We do know that there are different species in the gut, such as Roseburia hominis and Roseburia intestinalis, with a clear link to the intestine as its favorite habitat in the latter species name.
We also know that the Roseburia genome varies between 3.3 and 4.5 million base pairs with more than 3,000 genes. This means that this bacterium can produce more than 3,000 different substances.
What is this bacterium doing in my gut?
Roseburia is an important helper in your gut. This bacterium loves food residues that you cannot digest yourself, such as fiber from fruit and vegetables. When Roseburia gets to work, it converts these food residues into useful substances. Butyrate is one of the substances that Roseburia is good at producing. It is a short-chain fatty acid that nourishes the intestinal wall and thus ensures a good intestinal barrier. This makes it less easy for harmful substances to leak through the intestinal wall. Butyrate is also able to reduce inflammation. This is one way in which Roseburia strengthens the immune system in your gut.
Did you know that vitamin B2 or riboflavin also plays an important role here? Many Roseburia species can produce riboflavin themselves. This vitamin is then released into the intestinal environment, where it contributes to the vitamin balance and is shared with other bacteria. Riboflavin plays a central role in our VIAB2L study, allowing us to investigate this further. Interesting! 🙂
But there’s more: Roseburia is not only interesting for fundamental research, this bacterium is also on the radar as a “new generation probiotic” or “Live Biotherapeutic Product” (LBP). What are probiotics again? Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer a health benefit on the host when administered in adequate amounts. Roseburia intestinalis and Roseburia hominis in particular are promising candidates thanks to their role in butyrate production and regulation of the immune system. Safety studies and preclinical trials are already underway, but no approved applications exist yet. In short, this bacterium works behind the scenes to keep your digestion running smoothly and your immune system in balance. Sufficient Roseburia in your gut is therefore generally very good for your intestinal health.
Does this bacterium occur elsewhere?
Roseburia feels most at home in your gut. When this bacterium moves outside its familiar environment, it cannot survive very well because it is very sensitive to oxygen.
Researchers have also found this bacterium in other mammals, such as cows and pigs. Consider Roseburia porci, for example, a species that was originally isolated from the intestines of a piglet. Roseburia thus prefers to reside in the intestines of other mammals as well.