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Cited by 786Gut microbiota and healthProbiotics and Fermented FoodsInfant Nutrition and Health

The role of pH in determining the species composition of the human colonic microbiota

Duncan, Sylvia H., Louis, Petra, Thomson, John M., Flint, Harry J.·2009·Environmental Microbiology
DOI 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2009.01931.x
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Abstract

The pH of the colonic lumen varies with anatomical site and microbial fermentation of dietary residue. We have investigated the impact of mildly acidic pH, which occurs in the proximal colon, on the growth of different species of human colonic bacteria in pure culture and in the complete microbial community. Growth was determined for 33 representative human colonic bacteria at three initial pH values (approximately 5.5, 6.2 and 6.7) in anaerobic YCFA medium, which includes a mixture of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) with 0.2% glucose as energy source. Representatives of all eight Bacteroides species tested grew poorly at pH 5.5, as did Escherichia coli, whereas 19 of the 23 gram-positive anaerobes tested gave growth rates at pH 5.5 that were at least 50% of those at pH 6.7. Growth inhibition of B. thetaiotaomicron at pH 5.5 was increased by the presence of the SCFA mix (33 mM acetate, 9 mM propionate and 1 mM each of iso-valerate, valerate and iso-butyrate). Analysis of amplified 16S rRNA sequences demonstrated a major pH-driven shift within a human faecal bacterial community in a continuous flow fermentor. Bacteroides spp. accounted for 27% of 16S rRNA sequences detected at pH 5.5, but 86% of sequences at pH 6.7. Conversely, butyrate-producing gram-positive bacteria related to Eubacterium rectale represented 50% of all 16S rRNA sequences at pH 5.5, but were not detected at pH 6.7. Inhibition of the growth of a major group of gram-negative bacteria at mildly acidic pH apparently creates niches that can be exploited by more low pH-tolerant microorganisms.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2009.01931.x

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  • Increases in pH promote the growth of E. coli in vitro.

    “For example, increases in pH have been shown to promote the growth of E. coli in vitro (Duncan et al., 2009), and both RYGB and VBG are associated with reduced luminal exposure to gastric acidity.”

    From Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Vertical Banded Gastroplasty Induce Long-Term Changes on the Human Gut Microbiome Contributing to Fat Mass Regulation (2015) · cites this paper as Duncan et al., 2009

  • Gut microbiota within the distal intestinal tract foster fermentation processes that often produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), a major nutrient source for the ceco-colonic epithelium.

    “Gut microbiota within the distal intestinal tract foster fermentation processes that often produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), a major nutrient source for the ceco-colonic epithelium113.”

    From Dietary metabolism, the gut microbiome, and heart failure (2019) · cites this paper as [113]

  • The vast majority of SCFAs produced in the colon appears to be acetate, propionate, and butyrate, with an assumed approximate 60%, 20%, and 20% distribution, respectively.

    “Notably, the vast majority of SCFAs produced in the colon appears to be the simple aliphatic two, three and four carbon SCFAs acetate, propionate and butyrate, with an assumed approximate 60%, 20%, and 20% distribution, respectively69,113.”

    From Dietary metabolism, the gut microbiome, and heart failure (2019) · cites this paper as [113]

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Authors
Duncan, S. H., Louis, P., Thomson, J. M., & Flint, H. J.
Affiliations
University of Aberdeen (GB)
Corresponding author
Flint, Harry J.
ORCID
Venue
Environmental Microbiology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2009-08
Volume
11
Issue
8
Pages
2112-2122
ISSN
  • 1462-2912 (ISSN-L)
  • 1462-2920
DOI
10.1111/j.1462-2920.2009.01931.x
OpenAlex
W2049771483
Cited by
786
References
55
Citations by year
2026: 46 · 2025: 55 · 2024: 61 · 2023: 83 · 2022: 86 · 2021: 65 · 2020: 62 · 2019: 44 · 2018: 71 · 2017: 48 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 14
FWCI
5.77
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Environmental Microbiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Infant Nutrition and Health
Keywords
colonic microbiota, pH, bacterial growth inhibition, Bacteroides, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Eubacterium rectale, short-chain fatty acids, butyrate, Gram-positive anaerobes, Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli, 16S rRNA, low pH tolerance
MeSH terms
Base Sequence, Colon, Dietary Carbohydrates, Fatty Acids, Volatile, Gram-Negative Bacteria, Gram-Positive Bacteria, Humans, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Molecular Sequence Data, Starch

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