Isaac Cann

Degradation of complex arabinoxylans by human colonic Bacteroidetes

Nature Communications · 2021 · 169 citations

Some Bacteroidetes and other human colonic bacteria can degrade arabinoxylans, common polysaccharides found in dietary fiber. Previous work has identified gene clusters (polysaccharide-utilization loci, PULs) for degradation of simple arabinoxylans. However, the degradation of complex arabinoxylans (containing side chains such as ferulic acid, a phenolic compound) is poorly understood. Here, we identify a PUL that encodes multiple esterases for degradation of complex arabinoxylans in Bacteroides…

A Staphylococcus pro-apoptotic peptide induces acute exacerbation of pulmonary fibrosis

Nature Communications · 2020 · 79 citations

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and fatal disease of unknown etiology; however, apoptosis of lung alveolar epithelial cells plays a role in disease progression. This intractable disease is associated with increased abundance of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus in the lungs, yet their roles in disease pathogenesis remain elusive. Here, we report that Staphylococcus nepalensis releases corisin, a peptide conserved in diverse staphylococci, to induce apoptosis of lung epithelial ce…

Carbohydrate-binding modules facilitate the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass: Releasing reducing sugars and dissociative lignin available for producing biofuels and chemicals

Biotechnology Advances · 2023-03-13 · 67 citations

Formation of secondary allo-bile acids by novel enzymes from gut Firmicutes

Gut Microbes · 2022-11-07 · 58 citations

among Firmicutes in human metagenomes, demonstrating an increased abundance of the two genes in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients relative to healthy individuals.

Inhibition of lung microbiota-derived proapoptotic peptides ameliorates acute exacerbation of pulmonary fibrosis

Nature Communications · 2022 · 53 citations

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is an incurable disease of unknown etiology. Acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is associated with high mortality. Excessive apoptosis of lung epithelial cells occurs in pulmonary fibrosis acute exacerbation. We recently identified corisin, a proapoptotic peptide that triggers acute exacerbation of pulmonary fibrosis. Here, we provide insights into the mechanism underlying the processing and release of corisin. Furthermore, we demonstrate that an an…