Abstract: We collected 131 human fecal samples from Guangzhou, Guangdong to analyze the colonization rate of Akkermansia muciniphila. Then, we chose the feces without A. muciniphila for use as the inoculum in an in vitro model gut system and 1 × 108 CFU/mL of A. muciniphila was spiked into the system to evaluate the colonization ability of A. muciniphila by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) and high-throughput sequencing. The results of real-time PCR showed that the colonization rate was 89.31% and the average abundance was 5.825 (lg(CFU/mL)). The abundance of A. muciniphila changed slightly in the first 24 h. The growth of Lactobacillus was stimulated whereas the growth of Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides were inhibited. The results of next-generation sequencing (NGS) showed that the microbial profiles before and after intervention with A. muciniphila were not significantly different. In conclusion, A. muciniphila had the ability to colonize and it did not perturb the intestinal microbiota.

Key words: A. muciniphila, simulated gastrointestinal system, intestinal microbiota