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Mutagenesis reveals how Akkermansia muciniphila degrades mucin and colonizes the gut

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Mutational analysis of Akkermansia muciniphila identified genes important for growth in mucin and gut colonization. Mucin-degrading capabilities are essential for the bacterium to compete with other members of the microbiota, and mucin metabolism by A. muciniphila resulted in reduced transcription of genes involved with cholesterol biosynthesis in the host gut.

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Fig. 1: A. muciniphila genes required for growth in mucin overlap with those required to colonize the mouse intestine.

References

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This is a summary of: Davey, L. E. et al. A genetic system for Akkermansia muciniphila reveals a role for mucin foraging in gut colonization and host sterol biosynthesis gene expression. Nat. Microbiol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-023-01407-w (2023).

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Mutagenesis reveals how Akkermansia muciniphila degrades mucin and colonizes the gut. Nat Microbiol 8, 1384–1385 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-023-01408-9

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