Mechanism of 2-Fucosyllactose degradation by Human-Associated Akkermansia

Akkermansia are mucin degrading specialists widely distributed in the human population. Akkermansia biwaensis has recently been observed to have enhanced growth relative to other human associated Akkermansia on multiple human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). However, the mechanisms for enhanced growth are not understood. Here, we characterized the phylogenetic diversity and function of select genes involved in growth of A. biwaensis on 2-fucosyllactose (2-FL), a dominant HMO. Specifically, we demonstrate that two genes in a genomic locus, a putative beta-galactosidase and alpha-fucosidase, are likely responsible for the enhanced growth on 2-FL. The functional characterization of A. biwaensis growth on 2-FL delineates the significance of a single genomic locus that may facilitate enhanced colonization and functional activity of select Akkermansia early in life.