Chinese researchers identify mechanism behind obesity-inducing bacteria

BEIJING -- In daily life, some people can eat voraciously and still appear slim, while others seem to gain weight with every bite and are naturally prone to obesity. A team of researchers from Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, BGI Research, and the Institute of Intelligent Medical Research under BGI Genomics has identified the potential obesity-causing bacteria and revealed the underlying mechanisms in a large-scale cohort of obese individuals in China, the China Science and Technology Daily reported Monday. GENETIC RISK Based on the findings about obesity-inducing Megamonas, the research team investigated the impact of Megamonas in populations with different genetic risks for obesity. According to Wu Chao, the first author of the study and a researcher at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, the findings indicate that for populations with a low genetic risk for obesity, the impact of gut microbiota on the occurrence of obesity is greater than for those with a high genetic risk. UNDERLYING MECHANISM To unveil the mechanism behind the obesity-causing bacteria, the research team conducted further experiments using various models such as specific-pathogen-free mice, germ-free mice, and small intestinal organoids, with M. rupellensis, a representative species of Megamonas, serving as the experimental feeding agent.