Akkermansia muciniphila is a species of gram-negative bacteria of the phylum Verrucomibia. It is a symbiotic member of the intestinal microbiota and is thought to make up 1% to 5% of the total microbial population in generally healthy individuals. A. muciniphila is a unique microbe because it uses mucin (a major component of mucus) as a preferred food source. Accordingly, A. muciniphila specifically resides in the mucus layer lining the gastrointestinal tract.[1]
Akkermansia muciniphila is considered an important and health-promoting microbe and has recently been proposed as a novel probiotic.[2]