[2] It is a mucin-degrading bacterium belonging to the genus Akkermansia, discovered in 2004 by Muriel Derrien and Willem de Vos at Wageningen University of the Netherlands.

[7] It colonizes the gastrointestinal tract of humans and other animals and can be found within the intestinal mucosal layer of the epithelial crypts as well as in the caecum.

[8] A. muciniphila is found in about 90% of healthy humans, makes up about 1% to 3% of the fecal microbiota and colonizes the gut during the first year of life.

[6] The European Union has recognized pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila MucT as a novel food, provided the cells are killed beyond the limit of detection.

[14] A. muciniphila is under preliminary research for its potential to affect various disorders, such as in gut barrier function, obesity, type 2 diabetes, immune system dysfunction, colorectal cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease.