Microbiome biotech companies initiate experiment to study key Akkermansia strain

27 Aug 2024 --- Biotech companies Pendulum Therapeutics and BiomeSense are conducting a 14-week exploratory study of a pivotal bacterial strain called Akkermansia muciniphila residing in the gut microbiome using new data generation technology.

The pioneering research seeks to advance the scientific understanding of the human microbiome by focusing on the detection of the keystone strain using continuous sampling technology.

Akkermansia muciniphila makes up approximately 4% of intestinal bacteria and plays a crucial role in regulating the gut mucus lining and key metabolic functions. Its abundance is associated with a stable and diverse gut microbiome. However, its levels can vary and decrease for various reasons. 

“Akkermansia is often referred to as a keystone strain because it plays such an important role in helping maintain our health and longevity. Being able to measure Akkermansia levels in people over time is a total game-changer for conducting microbiome research and understanding the impact of products like ours,” says Dr. Adam Perlman, chief medical officer at Pendulum Therapeutics and one of the co-principal investigators of the study.

Proprietary automated laboratory

The study leverages the GutLab system, an automated laboratory that facilitates the continuous tracking of the gut microbiome in the comfort of participants’ private bathrooms. The data will be analyzed with MetaBiome, a time-aware algorithm database that enables a new dimension of analysis and biomarker discovery by tracking Akkermansia muciniphila levels. Researchers can then analyze its impact on microbiome ecosystems.

Traditional microbiome data generation methods are often cumbersome and only sample the microbiome at single points in time, limiting data generation and insights. With continuous data collection and insights into shifts in microbiome composition, the GutLab system has the potential to do for microbiome science what the glucose monitor did for the field of diabetes in understanding glucose trends. 

“The dense longitudinal data collection offered by GutLab and MetaBiome provides unprecedented insights into the dynamic nature of the gut microbiome. This transformation in data quality and frequency is essential for advancing our understanding of microbiome-related health and disease,” says Dr. Jack Gilbert, Ph.D., co-founder of BiomeSense, professor, associate vice chancellor and director of the Microbiome and Metagenomics Center at the University of California San Diego, US. 

Age, diet and other lifestyle factors are important for the abundance of Akkermansia. A loss of Akkermansia has been associated with increased intestinal permeability, obesity, inflammation and diabetes. Since its discovery in 2004, over 3,000 studies have highlighted its significance in gut health and overall health. 

With the regular collection of this data over many weeks, scientists are able to conduct a full longitudinal stool microbiome analysis and examine changes in Akkermansia levels. Unlike traditional methods that examine the microbiome at fixed points in time, GutLab allows for continuous assessment of the microbiome’s composition based on many samples.

Administering Akkermansia

The scientists will measure Akkermansia in a healthy adult population over 14 weeks, including eight weeks of administering two dose levels of Akkermansia muciniphila through Pendulum’s dietary supplements — Akkermansia and Akkermansia 500 Pro. 

The two-part open-label pilot study includes ten active participants and five household controls. It is fully enrolled and expected to conclude in autumn 2024. 

“Partnering with Pendulum Therapeutics allows us to combine our cutting-edge technology with their expertise in probiotics and microbiome health. Together, we are pioneering new frontiers in microbiome science that have the potential to transform how we approach health and disease,” says Kevin Honaker, co-founder and CEO of BiomeSense.

Meanwhile, getting a daily dose of probiotics with at least one billion live “good” bacteria will keep upper respiratory infections and stress at bay. Nutrition Insight caught up with Dr. Olaf Larsen, senior manager of science at Yakult Nederland and assistant professor of One Health Innovation at VU Amsterdam, who shares insights about how the quality of the gut microbiota has definitive protective effects on the body.

By Inga de Jong