What does this bacterium look like?
Akkermansia is a small oval-shaped bacterium of approximately 0.5 to 1 micrometer. That is small when you know that 1,000 micrometers fit into one millimeter. Its name honors the Dutch microbiologist Anton Akkermans.
What does science already know about this bacterium?
Not very much yet. The genus Akkermansia was first described in 2004. This bacterium does not tolerate oxygen well and is therefore difficult to grow in the lab. We do know that there are different species in the gut, such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Akkermansia biwaensis.
Akkermansia muciniphila is probably the best-known species and has been studied in greater detail. The name is a contraction of “mucin” and “philos”, which means nothing less than “mucin-loving”.
We know that the average genome size of Akkermansia varies between 2.5 and 3.2 million base pairs with more than 2,000 genes. This means that this bacterium can produce more than 2,000 different substances.
What is this bacterium doing in my gut?
Akkermansia is an important gut inhabitant. Akkermansia muciniphila receives a lot of attention in science because of its special role as a “mucin lover”. Unlike many other gut inhabitants, it does not specifically love fiber from your diet, but rather the mucus layer that your intestines produce to protect the intestinal wall. This may sound a little strange, but this characteristic has numerous advantages. By breaking down this mucus, Akkermansia muciniphila helps to keep the mucus layer in balance and stimulates the production of new, fresh mucus. This bacterium therefore plays an important role in keeping your intestinal barrier strong. In this way, it also helps to prevent inflammation.
The breakdown of the intestinal mucus layer is accompanied by the production of useful substances such as acetate and propionate. These short-chain fatty acids have numerous benefits. For example, acetate can provide energy to your intestinal cells and thus also contribute to a stronger intestinal wall. This makes it less easy for harmful substances to leak through the intestinal wall. But that’s not all! Certain gut bacteria can in turn use these short-chain fatty acids and convert them into butyrate. Think of Faecalibacterium, for example. In this way, intestinal bacteria work together in a network and help each other.
But that’s not all! Did you know that vitamin B2 or riboflavin also plays an important role here? Some Akkermansia species can produce riboflavin themselves. This vitamin can then be released into the intestinal environment, where it contributes to the vitamin balance and is shared with other bacteria. Riboflavin plays a central role in our VIAB2L study, allowing us to investigate this further. Interesting! 🙂
And there’s more: Akkermansia muciniphila is not only interesting for fundamental research, this bacterium has also been on the radar as a “new generation probiotic” or “Live Biotherapeutic Product” (LBP). What are probiotics again? Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer a health benefit on the host when administered in adequate amounts. Akkermansia muciniphila is therefore an interesting candidate because this bacterium is often linked to a better intestinal barrier, less inflammation and a favorable metabolism. Studies also show links to a lower risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Important to note: these are mostly correlations and therefore not yet proven effects of adding Akkermansia as probiotics or postbiotics (these are the non-living and therefore inactivated versions of probiotics). The Belgian company “The Akkermansia Company” is already developing products based on Akkermansia and was recently acquired by Danone. Clinical studies are already underway, and the inactivated bacteria have been approved as a dietary supplement. Approved medical applications do not yet exist. But who knows, you may soon find this bacterium in your yoghurt!
In short, this bacterium works hard behind the scenes to keep your digestion running smoothly and your immune system in balance. Sufficient Akkermansia in your gut is therefore generally very good for your intestinal health.
Does this bacterium occur elsewhere?
Akkermansia feels most at home in your gut. When this bacterium moves outside its familiar environment, it cannot survive very well because it is very sensitive to oxygen. Researchers have also found this bacterium in other mammals, such as monkeys and mice. But that’s not all! Akkermansia glycaniphila has been found in the feces of a python, so this bacterium can also find a nice home in reptiles.