Abstract 1752 The Role of ExbBD in Polysaccharide Utilization by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron

The human gut microbiota plays an essential role in the degradation of complex polysaccharides. These polysaccharides serve as a key energy source for the gut microbiota and the fermentation products then serve as an energy source for human intestinal cells. The Bacteroides make-up a large portion of the human gut microbiota and are significant contributors to polysaccharide degradation. TonB-dependent transporters (TBDT) are essential for the uptake of these polysaccharides after some initial degradation.