Mrs. M. Derrien : "Mucin Utilisation and Host Interactions of the Novel Intestinal Microbe Akkermansia muciniphila"

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15 May 2007 13:30
Unit: Wageningen University
Location: Aula, building 362, Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Organisation: Wageningen University
Promotor: prof.dr. W.M. de Vos (Microbiology)
Co Promotor: E.G. Zoetendal

 Mucins are the major organic components of the defence barrier that covers epithelial cells the entire gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Microbes that can associate with mucins benefit from this interaction since they can access nutrients. The work presented here is focused on the identification and isolation of mucin-degrading bacteria from the GI tract, their degradation of mucin and their interaction with the host. The faecal mucin-degrading bacterial community was found to be highly diverse and host-specific. A novel isolate, representing a novel genus, was cultured. This intestinal isolate, was found to be rather abundant in the GI tract. The specific impact of A. muciniphila on the host was investigated in mice devoid of bacteria and compared to that of the non mucin-degrading bacterium Overall, this work has brought new insights into the mucin-degrading community of bacteria, and in particular the role of A. muciniphila, an abundant human mucin-degrading bacterium.
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