Fusobacterium nucleatum is enriched in invasive biofilms in colorectal cancer
Fusobacterium nucleatum is an oral bacterium known to colonize colorectal tumors, where it is thought to play an important role in cancer progression. Recent advances in sequencing and phenotyping of F. nucleatum have revealed important differences at the subspecies level, but whether these differences impact the overall tumor ecology, and tumorigenesis itself, remain poorly understood. In this study, we sought to characterize Fusobacteria in the tumor microbiome of a cohort of individuals with CRC through a combination of molecular, spatial, and microbiologic analyses. We assessed for relative abundance of F. nucleatum in tumors compared to paired normal tissue, and correlated abundance with clinical and pathological features. We demonstrate striking enrichment of F. nucleatum and the recently discovered subspecies animalis clade 2 (Fna C2) specifically in colon tumors that have biofilms, highlighting the importance of complex community partnerships in the pathogenesis of this important organism.
Authors
- Cynthia L. Sears (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4059-1661)
- Mun Fai Loke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3554-5313)
- Jessica Queen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4924-6621)
- Thevambiga Iyadorai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9258-620X)
- April Camilla Roslani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2458-965X)
- James R. White (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7535-9179)
- Taylor Southward (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2301-6297)
- Julia L. Drewes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5060-0624)
- Hana Minsky (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8038-4646)
- Jamuna Vadivelu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3336-4129)
- Jane W. Wanyiri
- Madison McMann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0438-7217)
- Jacqueline Ferri
- Asmita Nandi
- Zam Cing
Institutions
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- Johns Hopkins Medicine (US)
- University of Malaya (MY)
- Resphera Biosciences (US)
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Biofilms and Microbiomes
- Published
- 2025-05-20
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-025-00717-7
- Citations
- 22
- Primary Topic
- Gut microbiota and health
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 17.73
Funders
- Burroughs Wellcome Fund
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- Johns Hopkins University
- Emerald Foundation
- Bloomberg Philanthropies
- Biocodex Microbiota Foundation
- Cancer Research UK
- Universiti Malaya
- National Institutes of Health
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
- National Cancer Institute
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases