Alterations in the Abundance and Co-occurrence of Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the Colonic Mucosa of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Subjects

Abstract

Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, cohabitants in the intestinal mucosa, are considered members of a healthy microbiota and reduction of both species occurs in several intestinal disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease. Little is known however about a possible link between the reduction in quantity of these species, and in which circumstances this may occur. This study aims to determine the abundances and co-occurrence of the two species in order to elucidate conditions that may compromise their presence in the gut. Loads of A. muciniphila, total F. prausnitzii and its two phylogroup (16S rRNA gene copies) were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in colonic biopsies from 17 healthy controls (H), 23 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 31 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), 3 with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and 3 with colorectal cancer (CRC). Data were normalized to total bacterial 16S rRNA gene copies in the same sample. Prevalence, relative abundances and correlation analyses were performed according to type of disease and considering relevant clinical characteristics of patients such as IBD location, age of disease onset, CD behavior, current medication and activity status. Co-occurrence of both species was found in 29% of H, 65% of UC and 29% of CD. Lower levels of total F. prausnitzii and phylogroups were found in subjects with CD, compared with H subjects (P ≤ 0.044). In contrast, no differences were found with the regard to A. muciniphila abundance across different disease states, but CD patients with disease onset below 16 years of age featured a marked depletion of this species. In CD patients, correlation between A. muciniphila and total F. prausnitzii (ρ = 0.362, P = 0.045) was observed, and particularly in those with non-stricturing, non-penetrating disease behavior and under moderate immunosuppressants therapy. Altogether, this study revealed that co-occurrence of both species differs between disease status. In addition, IBD patients featured a reduction of F. prausnitzii but similar loads of A. muciniphila when compared to H subjects, with the exception of those with early onset CD. Depletion of A. muciniphila in this subgroup of subjects suggests that it could be a potential biomarker to assist in pediatric CD diagnosis.

Metagenomic dissection of the canine gut microbiota: insights into taxonomic, metabolic and nutritional features

“…In addition, analysis of the predicted taxonomic profiles at phylum level revealed that the average abundance of three of the five phyla that are present in the canine core gut microbiota appeared to be altered by diet. Notably, in humans, Faecalibacterium, and in particular Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, is associated with a healthy microbiota (Lopez-Siles et al, 2018). 2; Supporting Information Table S3).…”

“…Therefore, dogs fed with commercial pet foods, which are typically enriched in fibres and carbohydrates, are associated with a higher abundance of these saccharolytic species, as compared with dogs of the BARF group whose diet was based on a high abundance of animal proteins and fats. Notably, in humans, Faecalibacterium, and in particular Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, is associated with a healthy microbiota (Lopez-Siles et al, 2018). Indeed, as a butyrogenic bacterium, this commensal species has been reported to possess antiinflammatory features and to positively influence the gut physiology (Sokol et al, 2008).…”

Function of Akkermansia muciniphila in Obesity: Interactions With Lipid Metabolism, Immune Response and Gut Systems

“…For example, the mucolytic enzymes induced by A. muciniphila increased upon the presence of a butyrogenic gut commensal, Anaerostipes caccae (Chia et al, 2018). Furthermore, the monosaccharides supported by A. muciniphila promoted the proliferation of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which converted acetate and lactate into butyrate (Lopez-Siles et al, 2018). It has been shown that A. muciniphila and F. prausnitzii, co-occurring in the mucosa, had a syntrophic relationship with each other and that both species were reduced in inflammatory bowel disease (Lopez-Siles et al, 2018).…”

“…Furthermore, the monosaccharides supported by A. muciniphila promoted the proliferation of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which converted acetate and lactate into butyrate (Lopez-Siles et al, 2018). It has been shown that A. muciniphila and F. prausnitzii, co-occurring in the mucosa, had a syntrophic relationship with each other and that both species were reduced in inflammatory bowel disease (Lopez-Siles et al, 2018). The metabolites were induced by A. muciniphila, even though not completely, and thus created metabolic cross-feeding interactions in the gut ecosystem.…”

Comparative genomics guides elucidation of vitamin B12 biosynthesis in novel human associatedAkkermansia

“…Akkermansia muciniphila is a mucin degrading, gram-negative intestinal bacterium widely present in the human population, typically at 1 to 4% relative abundance [1, 2]. A number of studies in humans [3–5] and rodents [6–8] have found positive associations between its abundance and intestinal health, suggesting that Akkermansia may be a beneficial member of the gut microbiome and could be used as a biomarker of a healthy gut [9–11]. However, despite a diversity of phylotypes being reported by previous sequence-based studies, A. muciniphila Muc T (ATCC BAA-835) represents the sole described species of the Verrucomicrobia phylum associated with humans [2, 12, 13].…”