Genomic convergence between Akkermansia muciniphila in different mammalian hosts

Abstract

Background Akkermansia muciniphila is a member of the human gut microbiota where it resides in the mucus layer and uses mucin as the sole carbon, nitrogen and energy source. A. muciniphila is the only representative of the Verrucomicrobia phylum in the human gut. However, A. muciniphila 16S rRNA gene sequences have also been found in the intestines of many vertebrates. Results We detected A. muciniphila-like bacteria in the intestines of animals belonging to 15 out of 16 mammalian orders. In addition, other species belonging to the Verrucomicrobia phylum were detected in fecal samples. We isolated 10 new A. muciniphila strains from the feces of chimpanzee, siamang, mouse, pig, reindeer, horse and elephant. The physiology and genome of these strains were highly similar in comparison to the type strain A. muciniphila MucT. Overall, the genomes of the new strains showed high average nucleotide identity (93.9 to 99.7%). In these genomes, we detected considerable conservation of at least 75 of the 78 mucin degradation genes that were previously detected in the genome of the type strain MucT. Conclusions The low genomic divergence observed in the new strains may indicate that A. muciniphila favors mucosal colonization independent of the differences in hosts. In addition, the conserved mucus degradation capability points towards a similar beneficial role of the new strains in regulating host metabolic health.

Comparative Genomics and Physiology of Akkermansia muciniphila Isolates from Human Intestine Reveal Specialized Mucosal Adaptation

“…The strong conservation of the mucin-degrading genes of A. muciniphila is further confirmed in recent analysis of Korean, US and Chinese isolates, where retention of mucin-degradation was identified as one of the strong evolutionary forces affecting A. muciniphila strains [65]. Interestingly, this was demonstrated for A. muciniphila strains isolated from various mammals, which also showcased low genomic divergence and a strong specialization in mucus colonization and degradation [66].…”

Akkermansia muciniphila exerts immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects on gliadin-stimulated THP-1 derived macrophages

“…It is worth mentioning that A. muciniphila has mucin-degrading enzymes and utilizes mucin, a complex glycosylated protein, and degrades it as carbon, energy and nitrogen sources 27 . These beneficial by-products are involved in regulating the host immune system through different signals including TNF‐α, IL‐10, etc.…”

Gut Microbiome–Brain Alliance: A Landscape View into Mental and Gastrointestinal Health and Disorders

“…A. muciniphila represents from 1 to 4% of the bacterial population in the colon. 105 A. muciniphila prefers to colonize in the intestinal mucus layer and specifically degrades mucins to produce short-chain fatty acids, thereby providing energy for the host and promoting colonization of the bacterium itself. The degradation of mucins prompts the host to compensate with the production of more mucins, thereby maintaining the dynamics of these proteins.…”