Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria in Gastrointestinal Health

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are a specialised group of anaerobic microbes that harness inorganic sulfate as a terminal electron acceptor in an energy-yielding process known as dissimilatory sulfate reduction. This metabolism culminates in the production of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), a molecule that at physiological levels may modulate gut motility and mucosal defence but at elevated concentrations can impair epithelial integrity and provoke inflammation. In the healthy intestine, SRB comprise a minor fraction of the commensal community, yet their activity is shaped by diet, host-derived sulphated compounds and interactions with other microbes. Overgrowth or blooms of SRB, particularly members of the Desulfovibrio and Bilophila genera, have been linked to inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic dysfunction and colorectal carcinogenesis. Conversely, cross-talk with other gut bacteria and host receptors can influence SRB proliferation and sulphide output, opening avenues for dietary interventions, receptor antagonists or probiotic strategies to restore microbial balance and protect barrier function.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A seminal study demonstrated that a diet enriched in saturated fat fosters the expansion of Bilophila wadsworthia, promoting intestinal barrier disruption, bile acid dysregulation and heightened inflammation. Combined transcriptomic analyses of host and microbiota revealed that B. wadsworthia synergises with a high-fat environment to exacerbate glucose intolerance and hepatic steatosis via modulation of butanoate-metabolic pathways. Importantly, administration of Lactobacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-3690 curtailed B. wadsworthia overgrowth, reinforced epithelial integrity and attenuated inflammatory markers, underscoring the therapeutic potential of targeting SRB through probiotic approaches.

Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria in Gastrointestinal Health publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in sulfate-reducing bacteria in gastrointestinal health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB): Anaerobic microbes that reduce sulfate to sulfide to conserve energy.

Dissimilatory sulfate reduction: Metabolic pathway in which microbes use sulfate as an electron acceptor, producing hydrogen sulfide.

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S): A gaseous signalling molecule with dual roles in gut physiology and toxicity at excess concentrations.

Pathobiont: A normally benign commensal organism that can contribute to disease under dysbiotic or inflammatory conditions.

References

1. Desulfovibrio vulgaris interacts with novel gut epithelial immune receptor LRRC19 and exacerbates colitis. Microbiome (2024).
2. Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron enhances H2S production in Bilophila wadsworthia. Gut Microbes (2024).
3. Bilophila wadsworthia aggravates high fat diet induced metabolic dysfunctions in mice. Nature Communications (2018).
4. Recent Advances in Metabolic Pathways of Sulfate Reduction in Intestinal Bacteria. Cells (2020).
5. Hydrogen Sulfide as a Toxic Product in the Small–Large Intestine Axis and its Role in IBD Development. Journal of Clinical Medicine (2019).
6. Diversity and distribution of sulfur metabolic genes in the human gut microbiome and their association with colorectal cancer. Microbiome (2022).