Fucosylation Dynamics in Gut Microbiota Interactions

Fucosylation dynamics in the gut constitute a central interface between host glycobiology and microbial ecology. Enzymatic addition of fucose residues to mucosal glycoproteins and glycolipids not only governs the adhesion and nutritional access of commensals and pathogens but also regulates biofilm formation and barrier function. Genetic variation in key fucosyltransferases, notably FUT2, underpins diverse secretor phenotypes that shape microbial community structure, influence probiotic engraftment, and modulate susceptibility to inflammation and infection. These processes are further tuned by external factors such as age, antibiotic exposure, and diet, giving rise to spatial and temporal heterogeneity in fucosylation patterns. Understanding this dynamic network has broad implications for therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring intestinal homeostasis, from targeted prebiotic or probiotic interventions to glycan-based modulators of immunity and microbial composition.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have examined how host genetic secretor status, determined by FUT2 activity, shapes gut microbiota composition and influences susceptibility to viral pathogens. One seminal investigation revealed that individuals secreting α1,2-fucosylated glycans into the intestinal mucosa harbour distinct microbial communities, with secretor-positive hosts enriched for taxa such as Faecalibacterium and Ruminococcus linked to reduced norovirus and rotavirus infection rates. This work established fucosylated glycans as critical mediators of host–microbe and host–pathogen interactions, underscoring the immunological and ecological roles of glycan modifications in the gut.

Fucosylation Dynamics in Gut Microbiota Interactions publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in fucosylation dynamics in gut microbiota interactions across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Fucosylation: Enzymatic addition of the sugar fucose to glycoproteins or glycolipids, influencing host–microbe recognition.
FUT2: Fucosyltransferase 2, the enzyme that catalyses α1,2-linked fucosylation on mucosal glycans.
Secretor status: Host genotype defined by FUT2 activity, determining the secretion of fucosylated glycans into the gut lumen.
Biofilm: Structured community of microorganisms enmeshed in a self-produced extracellular matrix on mucosal surfaces.
Glycan: Oligo- or polysaccharide structures attached to proteins or lipids that mediate cell and microbial interactions.
Probiotic persistence: The sustained colonisation and survival of beneficial microbial strains within the gastrointestinal tract.

References

1. Relevance of secretor status genotype and microbiota composition in susceptibility to rotavirus and norovirus infections in humans. Scientific Reports (2017).
2. Intestinal persistence of Bifidobacterium infantis is determined by interaction of host genetics and antibiotic exposure. The ISME Journal: Multidisciplinary Journal of Microbial Ecology (2024).
3. Interactions between host and intestinal crypt-resided biofilms are controlled by epithelial fucosylation. Cell Reports (2023).
4. Age-related dysregulation of intestinal epithelium fucosylation is linked to an increased risk of colon cancer. JCI Insight (2024).