Bile salt hydrolase-producing intestinal bacteria (BSH-producing bacteria)

Bile salt hydrolase (BSH)-producing intestinal bacterial taxa are a functional group of the gut microbiota, including genera such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Clostridium, that express the BSH enzyme (EC 3.5.1.24) (Song et al., 2019, PubMed). These bacteria play a critical role in host physiology by deconjugating primary bile acids, which is the essential first step in the transformation of bile salts into secondary bile acids (Joyce et al., 2014, PNAS). This enzymatic activity alters the bile acid pool composition, thereby influencing systemic metabolism through the activation or inhibition of nuclear receptors like the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and membrane receptors like TGR5 (Wahlström et al., 2016, Cell Metabolism). Clinically, these taxa are targeted to manage conditions such as hypercholesterolemia, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes, as BSH activity can reduce cholesterol absorption and improve glucose tolerance (Yao et al., 2018, Nature Communications). Conversely, inhibition of BSH is being explored as a strategy to prevent Clostridioides difficile infection, as conjugated bile acids can inhibit the germination of C. difficile spores (Adhikari et al., 2020, Nature Microbiology).

Other names

BSH-active gut microbiotaBile salt hydrolase-expressing bacteriaBSH+ intestinal taxaBile salt hydrolase-producing gut microbiota

Catalyzes the hydrolysis of the C-24 amide bond in conjugated bile acids, releasing free amino acids (glycine or taurine) and unconjugated bile acids, which subsequently modulates host signaling through FXR and TGR5 receptors.