Gut microbial metabolism of peanuts generates immunoregulatory metabolites.
11 affiliations
- 1APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
- 2School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
- 3Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- 4Department of Paediatrics, Cork University Hospital, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
- 5University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
- 6Teagasc Food Research Centre, Fermoy, Ireland.
- 7The Systems Virology Lab, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, ANA Futura, Stockholm, Sweden.
- 8Section of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
- 9Department of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
- 10Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
- 11Children's Health Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
Abstract
Early life introduction of potentially allergenic foods such as peanuts is important for the prevention of food allergy. We hypothesized that peanut consumption may indirectly influence the immune system via effects on gut microbiota composition and metabolism. In vitro human fecal fermentations with peanuts were performed. Changes in taxa and metabolism were measured using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomics respectively. Ten Bifidobacterium strains were cultured in vitro in the presence of peanuts and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were used to assess culture supernatant immunomodulatory effects. Fecal samples were sequenced from children at 12 months (n = 343) using whole genome metagenomic sequencing. An online questionnaire was used to collect dietary data. Human fecal bioreactor fermentation of peanut flour, previously subjected to in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion, resulted in significant production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), associated with increased relative abundance of Megasphaera and bifidobacteria. 188 metabolites were significantly altered following peanut fermentation. Bifidobacterium longum subspecies longum strain 160 efficiently metabolized peanut associated with secretion of indole-3-lactic acid (ILA). Following growth on peanuts, bifidobacterial supernatants enhanced IL-10 secretion, but reduced TNF-alpha and IL-5 secretion from stimulated PBMCs. Peanut consumption by 12-month-old children was associated with significant changes in gut microbiota composition including increased levels of Prevotella buccae, Megasphaera micronuciformis and Blautia wexlerae. Peanuts are metabolized by microbes generating immunoregulatory metabolites such as SCFAs and ILA. These metabolites may represent one potential mechanism underlying the allergy-protective effects of early peanut consumption, which requires further validation in high-risk allergy cohorts.
Related
- Gut dysbiosis and microbial metabolites in atopic dermatitis: implications for immune regulation along gut-skin axis
- Microbial-derived metabolites in cancer: evidence boundaries, immune mechanisms and translational pathways
- Gut microbiota, microbial metabolites, and mucosal barrier dysfunction in benign anorectal disorders and ulcerative colitis: shared mechanisms, clinical links, and precision interventions
- Epigenetic regulation of immune checkpoint signaling by microbial metabolites: mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and future perspectives
- Microbial metabolites as modulators of gut–brain communication in neurodegeneration: from intestinal sensing to disease initiation and progression
BibTeX
@article{shannon2026microbial,
title = {{Gut microbial metabolism of peanuts generates immunoregulatory metabolites.}},
author = {Emer Shannon and Hannah Devotta and Cebile Ndwandwe and Songhui Kim and Lu Yao and Lamiah Kareem and Avril Walters and Katri Korpela and Sadhbh Hurley and Nonhlanhla Lunjani and Fatma Koc and Harsh Mathur and Anoop Ambikan and Ujjwal Neogi and Lisa Friess and Douwe van Sinderen and Catherine Stanton and Carina Venter and Jens Walter and Jonathan Hourihane and Liam O'Mahony},
journal = {Gut microbes},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1080/19490976.2026.2743944},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42845237},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Gut microbial metabolism of peanuts generates immunoregulatory metabolites.
AU - Emer Shannon
AU - Hannah Devotta
AU - Cebile Ndwandwe
AU - Songhui Kim
AU - Lu Yao
AU - Lamiah Kareem
AU - Avril Walters
AU - Katri Korpela
AU - Sadhbh Hurley
AU - Nonhlanhla Lunjani
AU - Fatma Koc
AU - Harsh Mathur
AU - Anoop Ambikan
AU - Ujjwal Neogi
AU - Lisa Friess
AU - Douwe van Sinderen
AU - Catherine Stanton
AU - Carina Venter
AU - Jens Walter
AU - Jonathan Hourihane
AU - Liam O'Mahony
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
JO - Gut microbes
DO - 10.1080/19490976.2026.2743944
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42845237
AB - Early life introduction of potentially allergenic foods such as peanuts is important for the prevention of food allergy. We hypothesized that peanut consumption may indirectly influence the immune system via effects on gut microbiota composition and metabolism. In vitro human fecal fermentations with peanuts were performed. Changes in taxa and metabolism were measured using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomics respectively. Ten Bifidobacterium strains were cultured in vitro in the presence of peanuts and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were used to assess culture supernatant immunomodulatory effects. Fecal samples were sequenced from children at 12 months (n = 343) using whole genome metagenomic sequencing. An online questionnaire was used to collect dietary data. Human fecal bioreactor fermentation of peanut flour, previously subjected to in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion, resulted in significant production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), associated with increased relative abundance of Megasphaera and bifidobacteria. 188 metabolites were significantly altered following peanut fermentation. Bifidobacterium longum subspecies longum strain 160 efficiently metabolized peanut associated with secretion of indole-3-lactic acid (ILA). Following growth on peanuts, bifidobacterial supernatants enhanced IL-10 secretion, but reduced TNF-alpha and IL-5 secretion from stimulated PBMCs. Peanut consumption by 12-month-old children was associated with significant changes in gut microbiota composition including increased levels of Prevotella buccae, Megasphaera micronuciformis and Blautia wexlerae. Peanuts are metabolized by microbes generating immunoregulatory metabolites such as SCFAs and ILA. These metabolites may represent one potential mechanism underlying the allergy-protective effects of early peanut consumption, which requires further validation in high-risk allergy cohorts.
SN - 1949-0976
SN - 1949-0984
ER -