Rational Consideration of Akkermansia Muciniphila Targeting Intestinal Health: Advantages and Challenges

Overview

Journal NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes

Date 2022 Oct 17

PMID 36253412

Authors

Yuheng Luo

Cong Lan

Hua Li

Qingyuan Ouyang

Fanli Kong

Aimin Wu

Zhihua Ren

Gang Tian

Jingyi Cai

Bing Yu

Jun He

Andre-Denis G Wright

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

As one of the promising next-generation probiotics (NGPs), Akkermansia muciniphila, a well-known mucin-degrading bacterium, has been proven to be closely related to the metabolic diseases of its human host. However, the role of A. muciniphila in the host's intestinal health remains ambiguous. Here, we comprehensively summarize and discuss the characteristics, the distribution, and the colonization of A. muciniphila in the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT). We propose that the application of A. muciniphila as a biomarker for longevity, for diagnostics and prognostics of intestinal diseases, or for intestinal health should be cautiously considered. Precise dietary regulation can mediate the treatment of intestinal diseases by altering the abundance of A. muciniphila. Although the beneficial role of A. muciniphila and its component in intestinal inflammation has been discovered, in gnotobiotic mice with specific gut microbiota, certain genotype, and colorectal cancer, or in animal models infected with a specific pathogen, A. muciniphila may be related to the occurrence and development of intestinal diseases. Genomic analysis, emphasizing the strain-level phylogenetic differences of A. muciniphila, indicates that a clear description and discussion of each strain is critical before its practical application. Our review provides much needed insight for the precise application of A. muciniphila.

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