Bovine colostrum-derived extracellular vesicles may accelerate the growth of Akkermansia muciniphila by regulating energy metabolism in intestinal anaerobic coculture system

Extracellular vesicles derived from milk are known to play a significant role in regulating gut microbiota. However, few studies have focused on the effects of these vesicles on specific bacterial species. This study aimed to investigate how bovine colostrum-derived extracellular vesicles (BCEVs) affect the growth and viability of commensal bacteria, specifically Akkermansia muciniphila. BCEVs and A. muciniphila were co-cultured to measure growth rates using spectrophotometry, and cell viability was assessed at the endpoints. Additionally, to determine whether BCEVs enhance the survival of A. muciniphila in the presence of Caco-2 cells, an anaerobic co-culture experiment was conducted to determine the specific interaction between intestinal epithelial cells and gut microbiota using a Transwell system. The results showed that co-culture with BCEVs increased the growth rate and viability of A. muciniphila. Consistent with this, increased viability of A. muciniphila was observed when it was co-cultured with Caco-2 cells. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that BCEVs regulate nitrogen metabolism in A. muciniphila, enhancing the growth rate and viability. Thus, regulating beneficial gut bacteria, such as A. muciniphila, through BCEVs presents a novel biological approach that positively impacts human health.