Short-chain fatty acid-producing gut bacteria (SCFA-producing gut bacteria)

Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing gut bacteria are a functional group of commensal microorganisms, primarily within the phyla Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota, that ferment non-digestible carbohydrates into acetate, propionate, and butyrate (Koh et al., 2016). These metabolites are essential for maintaining intestinal homeostasis, as they provide the primary energy source for colonocytes and act as signaling molecules through G protein-coupled receptors such as GPR41, GPR43, and GPR109A, as well as through the inhibition of histone deacetylases (Parada Venegas et al., 2019). By modulating these pathways, SCFA-producing bacteria influence immune cell differentiation, reduce inflammation, and enhance the integrity of the intestinal barrier (Louis & Flint, 2017). A depletion of these bacteria is frequently observed in conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, making them a significant target for therapeutic intervention. Current pharmacological and nutritional strategies, including the use of prebiotics, probiotics, and live biotherapeutic products like VE202, aim to restore these populations to improve host health and treat metabolic and inflammatory disorders (Vedanta Biosciences).

Other names

Butyrate-producing bacteriaCommensal gut microbiotaSCFA-producersAcetate-producing bacteriaPropionate-producing bacteria

Production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that activate G protein-coupled receptors (GPR41, GPR43, GPR109A) and inhibit histone deacetylases (HDACs) to modulate immune and metabolic pathways.