N-glycosylated intestinal protein BCF-1 shapes microbial colonization by binding bacteria via its fimbrial protein

Abstract

Microbial colonization plays an instrumental role in the health of the host. However, the host factors that facilitate the establishment of the microbial colonization remain unclear. Here, we establish a screening method to identify host factors regulating E.coli colonization in C.elegans. We find that a BCF-1 possessing N-glycosylation promotes E.coli colonization by directly binding to E.coli via its fimbrial protein, YdeR. BCF-1 is activated by the bacteria and interacts with an oligosaccharyl transferase, OSTB-1, which is critical for regulating E.coli colonization. We also show that the N-glycosylation of BCF-1 is critical for E.coli colonization. In addition, we find that the microbiota composition is shaped by BCF-1. In summary, this study shows a "scaffold model" for bacterial colonization between a host glycoprotein and E.coli, and it also introduces a powerful research approach to identify individual host factors involved in modulating bacterial colonization.