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Clade-specific extracellular vesicles from Akkermansia muciniphila mediate competitive colonization via direct inhibition and immune stimulation

Author

Listed:
  • Moon-Gi Hong

    (Ilsandong-gu)

  • Eun-Ji Song

    (Iseo-myeon)

  • Hye Jin Yoon

    (Pohang University of Science and Technology)

  • Won-Hyong Chung

    (Iseo-myeon)

  • Hae Yeong Seo

    (Pohang University of Science and Technology)

  • Dohak Kim

    (Ilsandong-gu)

  • Dokyung Lee

    (Ilsandong-gu)

  • Jae-Gu Seo

    (Ilsandong-gu)

  • Hayoung Lee

    (Korea Basic Science Institute
    Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology)

  • Seung Il Kim

    (Korea Basic Science Institute)

  • Gwang Joong Kim

    (Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI))

  • Kil-Nam Kim

    (Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI))

  • Sang-Nam Lee

    (Ilsandong-gu)

  • Kwang Soon Kim

    (Pohang University of Science and Technology)

  • Young-Do Nam

    (Iseo-myeon)

Abstract

Akkermansia muciniphila, a promising candidate for next-generation probiotics, exhibits significant genomic diversity, classified into several distinct clades (AmI to AmIV). Notably, a single Akkermansia clade tends to predominate within individual hosts, with co-occurrence of different clades being rare. The mechanisms driving such clade-specific exclusion remain unclear. Here, we show that extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from AmII clade inhibit the growth of clade I (AmI), conferring a competitive advantage to AmII. Moreover, we observe clade-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA) responses, where AmII clade-specific IgAs, induced by EVs from AmII, facilitate niche occupancy and competitive exclusion of AmI. These findings provide insights into the competitive dynamics of A. muciniphila clades and suggest that future personalized microbiome interventions could be optimized by considering the clade composition of A. muciniphila in individual hosts.

Suggested Citation

  • Moon-Gi Hong & Eun-Ji Song & Hye Jin Yoon & Won-Hyong Chung & Hae Yeong Seo & Dohak Kim & Dokyung Lee & Jae-Gu Seo & Hayoung Lee & Seung Il Kim & Gwang Joong Kim & Kil-Nam Kim & Sang-Nam Lee & Kwang S, 2025. "Clade-specific extracellular vesicles from Akkermansia muciniphila mediate competitive colonization via direct inhibition and immune stimulation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57631-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57631-x
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