Akkermansia
Plain-English definitions of microbiome research vocabulary — the terms you'll see across articles, testing services, and probiotic claims.
Akkermansia muciniphila is a mucin-degrading bacterium that lives in the intestinal mucus layer. Higher abundance is associated with improved metabolic health, lower inflammation, and better gut barrier function. It thrives on polyphenol-rich foods.
Related terms
Microbiota
The actual living microorganisms within an environment. Often used interchangeably with microbiome, though microbiome technically includes their genes as well.
Intestinal Permeability
The property of the intestinal lining that controls what passes from the gut into the bloodstream. Increased permeability (sometimes called "leaky gut") allows harmful substances to enter circulation, triggering immune responses.