Coprococcus

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
Phylum:	Bacillota
Class:	Clostridia
Order:	Lachnospirales
Family:	Lachnospiraceae
Genus:	Coprococcus Holdeman and Moore 1974[1]
Type species
Coprococcus eutactus Holdeman and Moore 1974
Species
C. aceti C. ammoniilyticus C. eutactus C. hominis C. immobilis C. intestinihominis C. mobilis

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]
Coprococcus C. eutactus Holdeman & Moore 1974 C. ammoniilyticus Hitch et al. 2022 C. hominis Liu et al. 2022	Coprococcus C. eutactus C. ammoniilyticus

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

See also

• List of bacterial orders
• List of bacteria genera