Kombucha – a type of tea that has been fermented – is purported to confer health benefits, including lowering blood pressure and protecting against metabolic disease. However, the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of the Kombucha Tea-associated microbes (KTM) on host metabolism remain unknown. Using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as an animal model system to study the host physiological response to KTMs, a new study shows that KTMs colonize the C. elegans gut and restrict lipid accumulation in the host. Transcriptomic analysis showed that lysosomal lipases involved in lipophagy were upregulated in KTM-fed animals compared to animals fed control microbes, while a critical enzyme for triglyceride synthesis was down-regulated. These findings are consistent with the reported human health benefits of Kombucha Tea and provide new insights into the mechanisms driving host responses to KTMs.

Original reference: DuMez-Kornegay, R.N. et al. PLoS Genet. 20, e1011003 (2024)

康普茶是一种发酵茶，据称可以带来健康益处，包括降低血压和预防代谢疾病。然而，康普茶相关微生物 (KTM) 对宿主代谢产生有益影响的机制仍不清楚。一项新的研究表明，使用线虫秀丽隐杆线虫作为动物模型系统来研究宿主对 KTM 的生理反应，KTM 定植于秀丽隐杆线虫。线虫肠道并限制宿主体内的脂质积累。转录组分析表明，与饲喂对照微生物的动物相比，饲喂 KTM 的动物中参与脂肪吞噬的溶酶体脂肪酶上调，而甘油三酯合成的关键酶则下调。这些发现与报道的康普茶对人类健康的益处一致，并为驱动宿主对 KTM 反应的机制提供了新的见解。

原始参考文献： DuMez-Kornegay, RN 等人。公共科学图书馆基因网。20、e1011003 (2024)