<i>Akkermansia muciniphila</i> : is it the Holy Grail for ameliorating metabolic diseases?

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of metabolic diseases has become a severe public health problem. Gut microbiota play important roles in maintaining human health by modulating the host's metabolism. Recent evidences demonstrate that <i>Akkermansia muciniphila</i> is effective in improving metabolic disorders and is thus considered as a promising "next-generation beneficial microbe". In addition to the live <i>A. muciniphila</i>, similar or even stronger beneficial effects have been observed in pasteurized <i>A. muciniphila</i> and its components, including the outer membrane protein Amuc_1100, <i>A. muciniphila</i>-derived extracellular vesicles (AmEVs), and secreted protein P9. Hence, this paper presents a systemic review of recent progress in the effects and mechanisms of <i>A. muciniphila</i> and its components in the treatment of metabolic diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, as well as perspectives on its future study.