Tailored macrophage responses to commensal gut microbiota

Macrophages respond to bacteria at compromised intestinal barriers. 

The researchers in this study exposed macrophages to 15 commensal species and performed single-cell RNA sequencing to better understand their responses to individual bacteria.

They find that macrophage responses vary within a population and that these responses are specific to individual organisms.

The authors saw clusters that appeared only after macrophage exposure to bacteria, and transcriptional responses within each cluster varied by species and Gram status. The proportion of each cluster also varied among exposure conditions. 

Combinational exposure to macrophages revealed that Fusobacterium nucleatum drives inflammatory responses, whereas Mediterraneibacter gnavus tempers them. 

https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(25)00928-3

https://sciencemission.com/microbiota-drive-tailored-macrophage-responses