Bacterial species
A novel Akkermansia species has been isolated from fresh faeces obtained from the reticulated python. The species has been named Akkermansia glycaniphilus . It is capable of growing on mucus as a sole carbon and nitrogen source. The species can be used as a medicament, probiotic or cosmetic, e.g., for promoting weight loss, for promoting gut mucosal immune system function, for maintaining, restoring and/or increasing the physical integrity of the gut mucosal barrier, and for prevention or treatment of a variety of associated diseases or disorders.
1. A composition comprising an isolated Akkermansia glycaniphilus strain and a physiologically acceptable carrier, wherein said Akkermansia glycaniphilus is present in lyophilized or microencapsulated form.
2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said Akkermansia glycaniphilus is capable of growing on mucin as sole carbon and nitrogen source.
3. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said Akkermansia glycaniphilus is capable of growing on mucin as sole carbon and nitrogen source and capable of growing on N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, glucose, lactose, maltose or galactose as sole carbon source.
4. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said Akkermansia glycaniphilus strain is the strain deposited as CBS141023, or a functionally equivalent strain that has been derived therefrom.
5. The composition according to claim 1 , which is a pharmaceutical composition.
6. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said Akkermansia glycaniphilus is present in an amount ranging from about 10 4 to about 10 15 cells.
7. The composition according to claim 1 , which is a probiotic and/or a symbiotic.