USE OF AKKERMANSIA FOR TREATING METABOLIC DISORDERS

1 . A method for treating cancer in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering Akkermansia muciniphila or fragments thereof to the subject.

2 - 5 . (canceled)

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein viable cells of Akkermansia muciniphila are administered to the subject in need thereof.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the Akkermansia muciniphila is orally administered.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an amount of Akkermansia muciniphila ranging from about 1.10 4 to about 1.10 12 cfu, from about 1.10 5 to about 1.10 11 cfu, or from about 1.10 6 to about 1.10 10 cfu is administered to the subject.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the Akkermansia muciniphila is administered at least three times a week.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the Akkermansia muciniphila is co-administered with another probiotic strain and/or with one or more prebiotics.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the Akkermansia muciniphila is administered as a composition in association with an excipient.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said composition is a nutritional composition.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said composition is orally administered.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the Akkermansia muciniphila is administered as a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.

15 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . A method for treating cancer in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising orally administering a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of bacteria comprising substantially purified Akkermansia to the subject, wherein the substantially purified Akkermansia comprises at least 50% of a strain of Akkermansia.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the substantially purified Akkermansia is co-administered with another probiotic strain and/or with one or more prebiotics.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the bacteria comprise a mixture of bacterial strains in which at least 50% of the bacterial strains in the composition are Verrucomicrobia, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, or Proteobacteria.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the one or more prebiotics comprises a fructooligosaccharide, a glucooligosaccharide, a xylooligosaccharide, a galactooligosaccharide, an arabinoxylan, an arabinogalactan, a galactomannan, a polydextrose, an oligofructose, an inulin, a derivative thereof, or a combination thereof.

22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the composition further comprises a coating, wherein the coating does not begin to degrade until after it exits a stomach of the subject.

23 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the relative abundance of the Akkermansia strain in the subject is increased by at least 5%.

24 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the Akkermansia is lyophilized.

25 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the composition is administered in one or more doses per day.

26 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the composition is administered at a dose of from about 0.001 to about 100 mg/kg body weight of the subject, about 0.01 to about 50 mg/kg body weight of the subject, or about 0.05 to about 10 mg/kg body weight of the subject.

27 . A method for treating cancer in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising:

a therapeutically effective amount of a substantially purified Akkermansia , wherein the substantially purified Akkermansia comprises at least 50% of a strain of Akkermansia;

a prebiotic; and

a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is formulated for oral delivery and encapsulated by a coating, and wherein the coating does not fully degrade until after it exits the stomach of a subject.