Akkermansia muciniphila reduces susceptibility to Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice fed a high-fat diet

A high-fat (HF) diet reduces resistance to the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. We demonstrate that short-term gavage with A. muciniphila increases resistance to oral and systemic L. monocytogenes infection in mice fed a HF diet. A. muciniphila reduced inflammation in the gut and liver of mice fed a high-fat diet prior to infection and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in the ileum to levels similar to mice fed a low-fat (LF) diet. Akkermansia administration had minimal impacts upon the microbiota and microbial metabolites and did not affect individual taxa or impact the Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes ratio. In summary, A. muciniphila increased resistance to L. monocytogenes infection in mice fed a HF diet by moderating immune/physiological effects through specific interaction between A. muciniphila and the host gut.

Automated summary

A high-fat diet reduces resistance to Listeria monocytogenes, but short-term administration of Akkermansia muciniphila increases resistance to oral and systemic infection of L. monocytogenes in mice fed a high-fat diet. A. muciniphila reduces inflammation in the gut and liver, and normalizes the inflammatory cell infiltration in the ileum. It does not significantly affect the microbiota composition or microbial metabolites.