The Role of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in Health and Disease

Abstract

The human body is host to numerous complex microbial communities that comprise the human microbiome. These microbes and their dynamic interactions with each other and with the host, play critical roles in human development and health. Although mostly considered beneficial, bacteria within the microbiome also contribute to disease: as pathogens, as reservoirs of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes, and when these microbial communities become out of sync with their host, as drivers of chronic inflammatory diseases. This review highlights the current research on the gut microbiota, with a particular focus on Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and its role in maintaining intestinal health. F. prausnitzii is a species of obligate anaerobic bacteria found in the human gastrointestinal tract. This species has been widely associated with human health and is found at lower numbers in a wide variety of human diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Based on the current research landscape, however, it is evident that majority of research on F. prausnitzii is associative in nature and for this reason, culture-dependent studies are needed to further elucidate the role of this gut bacteria in diseases such as IBD.