On September 6, Professor Wang Qiang’s research group, also the brain science team of the First Affiliated Hospital （FAH） of Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), published a Research Paper entitled “Akkermansia muciniphila supplementation prevents cognitive impairment in sleep-deprived mice by modulating microglial engulfment of synapses” in Gut Microbes (2023 IF:12.2), revealing that gut dysbiosis plays an essential role in SD-induced cognitive impairment by activating microglial engulfment at synapses. Akkermansia muciniphila supplementation may be a novel target and preventative strategy for SD-induced cognitive dysfunction, by increasing SCFAs production and maintaining microglial homeostasis.

The findings in this study, for the first time, illustrate the role of gut microbiota in chronic SD-induced cognitive impairment in mouse models, pinpoint the single strain, confirm that Akkermansia muciniphila (AKK) strain transplant is beneficial to mitigate cognitive dysfunction in SD mice, and preliminarily investigate the potential mechanism. These results may provide a new strategy for the treatment and prevention of cognitive impairment related to SD or other nervous system diseases.

Li Na, a doctoral student from the FAH of XJTU, is the first author, Professor Wang Qiang and Assistant Researcher Xu Jing are the corresponding authors, and the FAH of XJTU is the first affiliation of this article.

Article link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19490976.2023.2252764