Thre impact of Akkermansia muciniphila on Group B Streptococcus gene expression during infection of human vaginal epithelial cells.

Previously we identified that Akkermansia muciniphila alters the dynamics of GBS vaginal colonization. Here we determine that A. muciniphila promotes GBS aggregation and attachment to human vaginal epithelial cells (hVECs).

RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that A. muciniphila changed expression of 258 unique GBS genes during hVEC colonization, with many involved in cell wall/membrane/envelope biogenesis. We demonstrate that A. muciniphila-mediated increases in GBS aggregation and attachment to hVECs are dependent on GBS capsule and pili, respectively. Lastly, we found that A. muciniphila promoted GBS aggregation in the murine vaginal lumen and continual treatment with A. muciniphila reduced GBS vaginal persistence.