Akkermansia muciniphila regulates food allergy in a diet-dependent manner

Amy Parrish, Marie Boudaud, Erica Grant, Stephanie Willieme, Mareike Neumann, Mathis Wolter, Sophie Craig, Alessandro De Sciscio, Antonio Cosma, Oliver Hunewald, Markus Ollert, Mahesh Desai*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Working paperPreprint

Abstract

Alterations in the gut microbiome, including diet-driven changes, are linked to the rising prevalence of food allergy, yet little is known about how specific gut bacteria incite breakdown of oral tolerance. Here, we show that depriving specific-pathogen-free mice of dietary fiber leads to an increase of the mucolytic bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila, which is associated with a surge in the colonic type 2 immune cells and IgE-coated commensals, and microbiota-mediated gut mucosal barrier dysfunction. These changes manifest into exacerbated sensitization to food allergens, ovalbumin and peanut. To demonstrate the causal role of A. muciniphila, we employed a tractable synthetic human gut microbiota in gnotobiotic mice. The presence of A. muciniphila within the microbiota, combined with fiber deprivation, resulted in stronger anti-commensal IgE coating and type 2 immune responses, which worsened symptoms of food allergy. Our study supports a mechanistic link between diet and a mucolytic gut microbe in regulating food allergy.
Original languageEnglish
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 13 Jul 2022

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Akkermansia muciniphila regulates food allergy in a diet-dependent manner'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this