Abstract / Description
The genus Akkermansia was first described in 2004 following the identification of Akkermansia muciniphila, a Gram-negative, mucin-degrading bacterium of the intestine that constitutes 1-3% of the total adult fecal content. Since the interest in A. muciniphila in human health has increased over the past decade, an extensive amount of research examining the impact of A. muciniphila on metabolic disorders, non-communicable diseases, and during infection has been published. Furthermore, a rapidly evolving area of research is the role of A. muciniphila in gynecological health. Many studies have shown that the presence of A. muciniphila may decrease the chances of negative health outcomes. Some of these protective effects include enhancement of epithelial barrier integrity and metabolism, immune modulation, and attenuation of inflammatory responses. As such, A. muciniphila has gained significant interest for its promising role as a next-generation probiotic. Notably, most of the in vivo evidence reviewed here demonstrates the probiotic potential of A. muciniphila. However, some findings suggest that its role is context-dependent, which may be influenced by the type of infection, diet, and microbiota composition. Herein, we review associations between Akkermansia species and an array of infectious diseases caused by diverse pathogen classes, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. We also review the impact of Akkermansia species in gynecological conditions, particularly during pregnancy. The emerging role of A. muciniphila in promoting health, and in some cases disease, has important implications for understanding complex microbial-host interactions, as well as for the development of novel therapeutics.