Akkermansia muciniphila
| Akkermansia muciniphila | |
|---|---|
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| Scanning electronic micrograph of Akkermansia muciniphila.[1] | |
| Scientific classification | |
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| Species: | A. muciniphila
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| Binomial name | |
| Akkermansia muciniphila Derrien et al. 2004
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Akkermansia muciniphila is a human intestinal symbiont, isolated from human feces.
Morphology
A. muciniphila is a
Ecology and metabolism
It colonizes the gastrointestinal tract of humans and other animals and can be found within the intestinal mucosal layer of the epithelial crypts as well as in the
oxic-anoxic interface.[8] A. muciniphila is found in about 90% of healthy humans, makes up about 1% to 3% of the fecal microbiota and colonizes the gut during the first year of life. Its prevalence can decrease with age or in disease states.[9]
A. muciniphila is able to use
short chain fatty acids which aid in growth of other bacteria and maintain healthy mucus turnover.[9] It also maintains microbial balance by competing with and inhibiting the over-growth of other mucin degrading bacteria. A. muciniphila is culturable under anaerobic conditions on medium containing porcine gastric mucin or synthetic medium containing protein source with glucose, N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine.[2][11]
Genomics
The circular chromosome of the type strain contains 2,664,102 base pairs and its proteome contains 5644 unique proteins.[7]
A. muciniphila strain Urmite was sequenced in its entirety from a human feces sample.[12]
 | This section is missing information about antibiotic resistance genes -- Urmite article makes reference to type-strain resistance genes; need a source. (February 2023) |
Human consumption
Oral Akkermansia muciniphila, either live or
pasteurized, "are safe and well tolerated in overweight and obese individuals."[6] However, its safety for use as a treatment during disease states is unestablished.[6]
The European Union has recognized
pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila MucT as a novel food, provided the cells are killed beyond the limit of detection.[13]
References
Further reading
- Derrien, Muriel; Collado, M. Carmen; Ben-Amor, Kaouther; Salminen, Seppo; de Vos, Willem M. (2008). "The Mucin Degrader Akkermansia muciniphila Is an Abundant Resident of the Human Intestinal Tract". Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 74 (5): 1646–1648. PMID 18083887.
