Coprococcus
Genus of bacteria
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coprococcus is a genus of obligately anaerobic, nonmotile, Gram-positive cocci that are part of the human and animal gut microbiota.[2]
| Coprococcus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Bacteria |
| Kingdom: | Bacillati |
| Phylum: | Bacillota |
| Class: | Clostridia |
| Order: | Eubacteriales |
| Family: | Lachnospiraceae |
| Genus: | Coprococcus Holdeman and Moore 1974[1] |
| Type species | |
| Coprococcus eutactus Holdeman and Moore 1974 | |
| Species | |
| |
Coprococcus spp. are notable for their ability to ferment dietary fibers into short-chain fatty acids, especially butyrate, which is a key metabolite that supports colonocyte health, enhances mucosal integrity, and has anti-inflammatory properties. The genus is considered an important contributor to colonic homeostasis and overall gut health.[3]
Depletion of Coprococcus has been reported in patients with colorectal cancer, although a direct protective role remains to be fully established.[4]
One species, Coprococcus comes, may also influence the efficacy of blood pressure-lowering medications by modifying gut metabolism of esterified angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.[5]
Phylogeny
The currently accepted taxonomy is based on the List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature (LPSN)[1] and the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)[6]
| 16S rRNA-based LTP_10_2024[7][8][9] | 120 marker gene-based GTDB 09-RS220[10][11][12] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Additional species placed elsewhere in LTP and GTDB phylogenies:
- Coprococcus catus Holdeman and Moore 1974
- Coprococcus comes Holdeman and Moore 1974
- "Coprococcus phoceensis" Bonnet et al. 2019
Etymology
From Ancient Greek:
- kopros – excrement, faeces
- kokkos – berry
→ Coprococcus – faecal coccus
