''Atopobium'' is a genus of
Actinomycetota
The ''Actinomycetota'' (or ''Actinobacteria'') are a phylum of all gram-positive bacteria. They can be terrestrial or aquatic. They are of great economic importance to humans because agriculture and forests depend on their contributions to soi ...
, in the family
Coriobacteriaceae
The Coriobacteriaceae
a family of Actinomycetota
The ''Actinomycetota'' (or ''Actinobacteria'') are a phylum of all gram-positive bacteria. They can be terrestrial or aquatic. They are of great economic importance to humans because agri ...
. ''Atopobium'' species are anaerobic, Gram-positive rod-shaped or elliptical bacteria found as single elements or in pairs or short chains.
''
Atopobium vaginae
''Fannyhessea vaginae'' is a species of bacteria in the family ''Atopobiaceae''. It is a facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive rod-shaped or elliptical coccobacilli found as single elements or in pairs or short chains. It is typically isolated fr ...
'' was discovered in 1999.
This is a facultative anaerobic bacteria, which form small colonies on blood agar at 37 °C is also positive for acid phosphatase.
Clinical significance
The genus ''Atopobium'' may be associated with
bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a disease of the vagina caused by excessive growth of bacteria. Common symptoms include increased vaginal discharge that often smells like fish. The discharge is usually white or gray in color. Burning with urination ...
.
The genus may play a role in the development of
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel m ...
. While the genus has been reported as overrepresented in feces of patients,
''
A. minutum'' has conversely shown a mild apoptotic effect on cancer cells ''in vitro'' and has been suggested to be comparable to probiotic bacteria in regards to colorectal cancer.
See also
*
List of bacterial vaginosis microbiota
Bacterial vaginosis is caused by an imbalance of the naturally occurring bacteria in the vagina. The normally predominant species of ''Lactobacilli'' are markedly reduced. This is the list of organisms that are found in the vagina that are assoc ...
References
External links
*https://web.archive.org/web/20070929134318/http://sn2000.taxonomy.nl/Main/Classification/112091.htm
Coriobacteriaceae
Bacteria genera
{{actinobacteria-stub