Science

The history of bacteria in a capsule

In 2004, the bacterium was isolated by Professor Willem M. de Vos. It turned out that Akkermansia muciniphila lives in the mucous layer (mucin) of the intestine, colonises the human digestive system at an early stage of life and constitutes approximately 3% of healthy microbiota. Intensive research on this unique bacterium lasted 18 years, during which experimental (including genetic) and clinical studies were conducted to examine, for example, its effect on metabolism. During this time, beneficial components were also isolated from the bacterium, including the protein Amuc_1100.

However, it was not easy to encapsulate Akkermansia muciniphila. Finally, Professor Patrice D. Cani prepared it in a pasteurised form, which could be sold to customers as a postbiotic. It was introduced to Poland by SANPROBI, using its scientific and production expertise. History in the making – thanks to the Horizon project, scientists from Szczecin and the Sanprobi laboratory are going to study the effect of bacterial supplementation on stress symptoms.

Find out more: PRODUCTION LABORATORY
Bakteria Akkermansia muciniphila
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Novel food.
A new era of probiotic therapy
2022 – Akkermansia muciniphila is recognised as a novel food by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
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Bakteria Akkermansia muciniphila

Glossary

Postbiotic
a product containing inanimate (e.g. pasteurised) bacteria and/or their components that have a beneficial effect on health.
Novel food
– food that is ‘innovative or produced using new technologies and production processes’ (gov.pl).
Mucin
mucus found, for example, in the intestines, which protects the mucous membranes from digestive enzymes. Mucin is also an important component of the intestinal barrier and protects against toxins.
Metabolic endotoxemia
inflammation leading to the development of metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and obesity. Caused by an increase in LPS (a component of pathogenic bacteria) in the blood, associated with disturbances in the gut microbiota and increased intestinal barrier permeability.
SCFA
short-chain fatty acids that keep the large intestine in good condition and are also a good source of energy for all cells. These include butyric, acetic and propionic acids.
AMUC_1100
a protein found in the outer membrane of the bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila. Scientists have discovered that it may contribute to the beneficial effects of live and pasteurised bacteria on intestinal barrier function.
GLP-1
a gastrointestinal hormone that stimulates insulin secretion by the pancreas and suppresses appetite by affecting the lateral hypothalamus, the hunger centre.
To date
2000 scientific publications have been published
on Akkermansia muciniphilia
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Discoverers of Akkermansia muciniphila

Meet the two scientists who discovered, studied and patented the Akkermansia muciniphila bacterium. Now they want to share their discovery with you – the pasteurised bacterium is available worldwide as a postbiotic, also in Poland.

Professor Patrice D. Cani

Nutritionist, Doctor of Biomedical Sciences. Professor at the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve in Belgium, co-director of the European Associated Laboratory NeuroMicrobiota (INSERM/UCL). By combining different scientific approaches, he discovered that the endocannabinoid system, the innate immune system and gut bacteria play a role in the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic disorders. His motto is ‘In Gut we Trust’.

Professor Willem M. de Vos

Biologist, biochemist, professor of microbiology at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. In 2008, he received the NWO Spinoza Prize for his pioneering research on the influence of microorganisms on food and health. Through DNA analysis, he determined that each person has a unique combination of gut bacteria. The diagnosis of these bacteria may help to map specific disease states.

The most important publications by Professors Willem M. de Vos and Patrice D. Cani on Akkermansia muciniphila bacteria:

Derrien M. et al. Akkermansia muciniphila gen. nov., sp. nov., a human intestinal mucin-degrading bacterium. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2004;54(Pt 5):1469-1476. doi: 10.1099/ijs.0.02873-0.
Depommier C. et al. Supplementation with Akkermansia muciniphila in overweight and obese human volunteers: a proof-of-concept exploratory study. Nat Med. 2019;25(7):1096-1103. doi: 10.1038/s41591-019-0495-2.
Cani PD. et al. Akkermansia muciniphila: paradigm for next-generation beneficial microorganisms. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022;19(10):625-637. doi: 10.1038/s41575-022-00631-9.

Humans in symbiosis with Akkermansia muciniphila

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