Progress on FUT2 gene and gut microbial composition in relation to rotavirus susceptibility / 国际儿科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Rotavirus(RV) is currently the leading cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide, and RV has been found to recognize and bind to histo-blood group antigens(HBGAs) through its structural protein VP8, and the FUT2 gene determines the expression of HBGAs in epithelial tissues and secretion in body fluids.Individuals with loss of functional enzyme activity due to mutations in the FUT2 gene, called non-secretors, are unable to express and secrete HBGAs in the mucosa and body fluids, and non-secretors have been found to be resistant to diarrhea caused by RV.Studies have shown that microbial composition is genetically regulated by the host, and hundreds of genetic loci are involved in regulating the composition of human gut microbes, including FUT2.Sterile animal models reduce the rate of RV infection, suggesting that intestinal bacteria are associated with the process of RV infection.These studies reveal that secretory status directly influences individual susceptibility to RV, and its effect on gut microbial composition indirectly modulates human susceptibility to RV.This article reviews the correlation between FUT2 and gut microbial composition with RV susceptibility, with the aim of opening new avenues for personalized prevention and treatment of RV infection.