Akkermansia currently only has one known species, Akkermansia muciniphila. This bacteria naturally occurs in the human gut microbiome and might be linked to human metabolism. Studies have shown that increased abundances of A. muciniphila are correlated to lean humans, while decreased abundances are observed more often in overweight or obese patients.

Akkermansia, from the phylum Verrucomicrobia, is known for its ability to efficiently use mucus as a carbon and nitrogen source.Akkermansia is a Gram-negative, non-motile, anaerobic, oval-shaped, and non-spore-forming bacteria.

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Derrien, M. Akkermansia muciniphila gen. nov., sp. nov., a human intestinal mucin-degrading bacterium. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2004. 54 (5): 1469–1476. doi:10.1099/ijs.0.02873-0. ISSN 1466-5026.

van Passel MW, Kant R, Zoetendal EG, et al. The genome of Akkermansia muciniphila, a dedicated intestinal mucin degrader, and its use in exploring intestinal metagenomes. Plos One. 2011. 6(3): e16876. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016876.