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Cited by 249Gut microbiota and healthMicrobial metabolism and enzyme functionPolyamine Metabolism and Applications

Archaebiotics: Proposed therapeutic use of archaea to prevent trimethylaminuria and cardiovascular disease

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Brugère, Jean-François, Borrel, Guillaume, Gaci, Nadia, Tottey, William, O’Toole, Paul W, Malpuech-Brugère, Corinne·2014·Gut Microbes
DOI 10.4161/gmic.26749PMC PMC4049937
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Abstract

Trimethylamine (TMA) is produced by gut bacteria from dietary ingredients. In individuals with a hereditary defect in flavin-containing monooxygenase 3, bacterial TMA production is believed to contribute to the symptoms of trimethylaminuria (TMAU; fish-odor syndrome). Intestinal microbiota TMA metabolism may also modulate atherosclerosis risk by affecting trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) production levels. We propose that reducing TMA formation in the gut by converting it to an inert molecule could be used to prevent or limit these human diseases, while avoiding the major drawbacks of other clinical interventions. Reducing TMA levels by microbiological interventions could also be helpful in some vaginoses. Particular members of a recently discovered group of methanogens, that are variably present in the human gut, are unusual in being apparently restricted to utilizing only methyl compounds including TMA as substrates. We confirmed experimentally that one of these strains tested, Methanomassiliicoccus luminyensis B10, is able to deplete TMA, by reducing it with H 2 for methanogenesis. We therefore suggest that members of this archaeal lineage could be used as treatments for metabolic disorders.

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  • TMA can be used for methanogenesis in the gastrointestinal tract, and this pathway is active in human intestine bacteria including Methanomassiliicoccus, Methanomethylophilus, Methanobrevibacter smithii, and Methanosphaera stadtmanae.

    “TMA can be used for methanogenesis in the gastrointestinal tract; in human intestine, this pathway is active in bacteria belonging to the genera Methanomassiliicoccus and Methanomethylophilus (18,21,38) as well as in Methanobrevibacter smithii and Methanosphaera stadtmanae (41).”

    From Trimethylamine <i>N</i> -Oxide, the Microbiome, and Heart and Kidney Disease (2017) · cites this paper as [21]

  • TMA can be used for methanogenesis in the gastrointestinal tract, and bacteria of the genera Methanomassiliicoccus and Methanomethylophilus have this pathway.

    “TMA can be used for methanogenesis in the gastrointestinal tract, and bacteria belonging to the genera Methanomassiliicoccus and Methanomethylophilus have this pathway (18,21,38,41).”

    From Trimethylamine <i>N</i> -Oxide, the Microbiome, and Heart and Kidney Disease (2017) · cites this paper as [21]

  • A number of methanogenic bacteria belonging to the order Methanobacteriales are natural inhabitants in the human gut.

    “A number of methanogenic bacteria belonging to the order Methanobacteriales have been identified as natural inhabitants in the human gut.”

    From Trimethylamine N-oxide: the good, the bad and the unknown. (2016) · cites this paper as [58]

  • These archaea utilize only methyl compounds including TMA as substrate.

    “These archaea utilize only methyl compounds including TMA as substrate [58].”

    From Trimethylamine N-oxide: the good, the bad and the unknown. (2016) · cites this paper as [58]

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Research works printed but not linked: 26

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Sorted by citations

Authors
Brugère, J.-F., Borrel, G., Gaci, N., Tottey, W., O’Toole, P. W., & Malpuech-Brugère, C.
Affiliations
  • Université Clermont Auvergne (FR)
  • University College Cork (IE)
Corresponding author
Brugère, Jean-François
ORCID
Venue
Gut Microbes
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2013-10-31
Volume
5
Issue
1
Pages
5-10
ISSN
  • 1949-0976 (ISSN-L)
  • 1949-0984
DOI
10.4161/gmic.26749
PMC
PMC4049937
OpenAlex
W2024600880
Cited by
249
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 6
FWCI
6.86
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc
Locations
  • Gut Microbes (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • Science Foundation Ireland
  • Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Microbial metabolism and enzyme function
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Polyamine Metabolism and Applications
Keywords
trimethylamine, trimethylaminuria, FMO3, trimethylamine N-oxide, atherosclerosis, gut microbiota, methanogenic archaea, hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis, metabolic disorders, probiotic therapy
MeSH terms
Archaea, Cardiovascular Diseases, Humans, Metabolism, Inborn Errors, Methylamines, Probiotics, Microbiota

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