Reconstruction of the bifidobacterial pan-secretome reveals the network of extracellular interactions between bifidobacteria and the infant gut

The repertoire of secreted proteins decoded by a microorganism represents proteins released from or associated with the cell surface. In gut commensals, such as bifidobacteria, these proteins are perceived to be functionally relevant, as they regulate the interaction with the gut environment. In the current study, we screened the predicted proteome of over 300 bifidobacterial strains among the currently recognized bifidobacterial species to generate a comprehensive database encompassing bifidobacterial extracellular proteins. A glycobiome analysis of this predicted bifidobacterial secretome revealed that a correlation exists between particular bifidobacterial species and their capability to hydrolyze human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and intestinal glycoconjugates, such as mucin. Furthermore, an exploration of metatranscriptomic data sets of the infant gut microbiota allowed the evaluation of the expression of bifidobacterial genes encoding extracellular proteins, represented by ABC transporter substrate-binding proteins and glycoside hydrolases enzymes involved in the degradation of human milk oligosaccharides and mucin. Overall, this study provides insights into how bifidobacteria interact with their natural yet highly complex environment, the infant gut.