Colonization and Dissemination of Klebsiella pneumoniae is Dependent on Dietary Carbohydrates

Abstract

Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is increasingly appreciated as both a consequence and precipitant of human disease. The outgrowth of the bacterial family Enterobacteriaceae is a common feature of dysbiosis, including the human pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae . Dietary interventions have proven efficacious in the resolution of dysbiosis, though the specific dietary components involved remain poorly defined. Based on a previous human diet study, we hypothesized that dietary nutrients serve as a key resource for the growth of bacteria found in dysbiosis. Through human sample testing, and ex-vivo , and in vivo modeling, we find that nitrogen is not a limiting resource for the growth of Enterobacteriaceae in the gut, contrary to previous studies. Instead, we identify dietary simple carbohydrates as critical in colonization of K. pneumoniae . We additionally find that dietary fiber is necessary for colonization resistance against K. pneumoniae , mediated by recovery of the commensal microbiota, and protecting the host against dissemination from the gut microbiota during colitis. Targeted dietary therapies based on these findings may offer a therapeutic strategy in susceptible patients with dysbiosis.