Limitation of amino acid availability by bacterial populations during enhanced colitis in IBD mouse model

Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with an increase in Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus species, however the mechanisms are unclear. Richie et al. show that these bacterial populations use sulfur metabolism and tolerate host-derived immune-response, to drive host inflammation and fuel growth in the dysbiotic colon. Cultured isolates from dysbiotic mice indicated faster growth supplemented with L-cysteine, showing these microbes can utilize these essential host nutrients.