Method of culturing akkermansia

Abstract

A method for cost-effectively and efficiently culturing Akkermansia muciniphila is described. High biomass yields can be obtained on chemically defined media. This allows for large scale production of A. muciniphila suitable for use in humans, such as for pharmaceutical or food applications. The A. muciniphila can be produced free of animal-derived products, thereby allowing a broad-range of applications.

1 . A method of culturing bacteria of the species  Akkermansia muciniphila , said method comprising inoculating a composition comprising a monosaccharide, a nitrogen-containing derivative of a monosaccharide, and an amino acid source, with bacteria of the species  Akkermansia muciniphila.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen-containing derivative of a monosaccharide is selected from the group consisting of N-acetyl-glucosamine (Glc-NAc) and N-acetyl-galactosamine (Gal-Nac). 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen-containing derivative of a monosaccharide is Glc-NAc. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen-containing derivative of a monosaccharide is Glc-NAc present in an amount ranging from about 0.001 mM to about 1 M. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the monosaccharide is glucose. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the monosaccharide is glucose present in an amount ranging from about 0.001 M to about 1 M. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises threonine. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises threonine present in an amount ranging from about 0.01 mM to about 100 mM. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid source is selected from the group consisting of a plant-based amino acid source, a microbial-based amino acid source, and a combination of alanine, glutamate, proline and serine. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid source is a plant protein hydrolysate. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid source is a plant protein hydrolysate present in an amount ranging from about 0.01 g/l to about 1 kg/l. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid source is a plant protein hydrolysate present in an amount ranging from about 0.05 g/l to about 500 g/l. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid source is a plant protein hydrolysate present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 g/l to about 250 g/l. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid source is a plant protein hydrolysate present in an amount ranging from about 0.5 g/l to about 150 g/l. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid source is a plant protein hydrolysate present in an amount ranging from about 1 g/l to about 100 g/l. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid source is a plant protein hydrolysate present in an amount ranging from about 2 to about 80 g/l. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises allowing said bacteria to multiply. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1 , which is a method of producing said bacteria of the genus  Akkermansia  on a large scale. 
     
     
         19 . A composition comprising  Akkermansia muciniphila , a monosaccharide, a nitrogen-containing derivative of a monosaccharide, and an amino acid source. 
     
     
         20 . The composition according to  claim 19 , wherein said composition is free of animal-derived products. 
     
     
         21 . The composition according to  claim 19 , wherein said  Akkermansia muciniphila  is present in a concentration of at least 5.10 9  cells per ml.