Ellagibacter isourolithinifaciens

Ellagibacter isourolithinifaciens is a species of Gram-positive and strictly anaerobic bacterium in the genus Ellagibacter (family Eggerthellaceae). It was isolated from a fecal sample of a healthy human and described as the type and only species of the genus in 2018.^[1]

Ellagibacter isourolithinifaciens
Scientific classification
Domain:	Bacteria
Kingdom:	Bacillati
Phylum:	Actinomycetota
Class:	Coriobacteriia
Order:	Eggerthellales
Family:	Eggerthellaceae
Genus:	Ellagibacter
Species:	E. isourolithinifaciens
Binomial name
Ellagibacter isourolithinifaciens Beltrán et al. 2018
Type strain
CEBAS 4A4 (=DSM 104140 =CECT 9190)

Etymology

The species name isourolithinifaciens derives from Latin roots: iso (equal or similar), urolithin (a class of microbial metabolites), and faciens (making or producing), referring to the bacterium's ability to produce isourolithin A from ellagic acid.^[1]

Characteristics

E. isourolithinifaciens is a non-spore-forming, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium. It is part of the human gut microbiome and is notable for its ability to metabolize ellagic acid, a polyphenol derived from dietary sources such as berries and pomegranates. This species specifically produces isourolithin A, a type of urolithin that has been associated with potential health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.^[1][2]