Zinc and Cobalt Exposure Influence Akkermansia muciniphila Growth and Short-Chain Fatty Acid Metabolism

This repository contains the data and analysis code supporting the manuscript titled Zinc and Cobalt Exposure Influence Akkermansia muciniphila Growth and Short-Chain Fatty Acid Metabolism. The study investigates the effects of zinc (Zn) and cobalt (Co) exposure—individually and in combination—on the growth of Akkermansia muciniphila and its production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetate, butyrate, and propionate. Growth measurements and SCFA concentrations were assessed under various exposure conditions using MIC testing, growth curve assays, and LC-MS metabolomic analysis. We show that A. muciniphila is broadly metal-tolerant: only high-dose Co suppresses growth, while Zn (alone or with low Co) boosts propionate production and high-dose Co diminishes it. These results support the feasibility of A. muciniphila–based probiotic interventions even in settings with neuroactive metal exposures. This repository includes:- Cleaned metabolomics and growth datasets (`.csv`)- The R Markdown script (`analysis.Rmd`) used for statistical analysis and figure generation This work supports the use of A. muciniphila as a probiotic even in the presence of neuroactive metal exposures. Authors: Shoshannah Eggers, Joseph Eggers, Maria Banas, Vishal Midya For citation, please use the DOI associated with this Zenodo record.