A crucial bridge between dietary fiber and host health: Faecalibacterium prausnitzii

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, an extremely anaerobic symbiont and a major butyrate producer in the human gut, shows great potential for promoting host health. Recently, mounting evidence highlights the beneficial effects of dietary fiber selectively degraded by the gut microbiota for maintaining host health. Notably, studies have demonstrated that dietary fiber targeted to F. prausnitzii is emerging as a significant approach to improving host health, while their relationship needs to be further clarified. Here, we summarize the molecular mechanism of dietary fiber degradation by F. prausnitzii, followed by an analysis of how dietary fiber-targeted enrichment of F. prausnitzii influences host health. Furthermore, we discuss the roles and potential mechanisms of F. prausnitzii in host health. The present review provides new insights into microbiome-based therapeutic interventions and the development of dietary fiber-based treatments.