My research is focussed on intestinal microbes that are specialised in the degradation of the host produced glycan rich proteins; Mucus & Milk. Milk degrading bacteria are utmost important in early life development. Mucosal colonisers are influencing immune and metabolic health throughout life. By using my favorite bugs Bifidobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Akkermansia we investigate their direct role in human health and their role in microbiobal networks.