Work

Combinatorial effects of EPA and Bifidobacterium breve associated with autism: bioactive metabolites and molecular targets

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Bifidobacterium breve strains have individually shown beneficial effects in neurodevelopmental disorders, but their combinatorial effects remain unclear. This study investigated whether B. breve strains metabolize EPA in vitro and explored their potential relevance to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Five B. breve strains were co-fermented with EPA. BB1 and BB2, but not other strains, exhibited EPA-metabolizing capabilities. Both strains promoted DHA production and enriched arachidonic acid (AA), while EPA concurrently altered their lipid profiles. Notably, BB1 specifically increased eicosadienoic acid (EDA) levels, whereas BB2 promoted oleic acid (OA) secretion. Network pharmacology predicted potential molecular targets of these metabolites previously implicated in ASD. Strain-specific targets were associated with EDA and OA, respectively, with EPA targets largely overlapping those of both strains. PPI and KEGG analyses revealed core molecular hubs, and molecular docking predicted metabolite-receptor interactions. For BB1 + EPA, metabolites were predicted to bind to AKT1, MTOR, PIK3CA, ESR1, and PPARG, targeting PI3K-Akt-mTOR and AMPK pathways. For BB2 + EPA, binding to ESR1, MAPK3, and PPARG targeted the AMPK pathway. Collectively, B. breve BB1 and BB2 exhibit strain-specific EPA-metabolizing capabilities, producing distinct bioactive metabolites that are computationally predicted to interact with ASD-related pathways, providing testable hypotheses for future ASD‑related mechanistic studies.

Source: npj Science of Food

DOI: 10.1038/s41538-026-01182-y