Eggerthella
Encyclopedia
Eggerthella is a bacterial genus
of Actinobacteria
, in the family Coriobacteriaceae
. Members of this genus are anaerobic
, non-sporulating, non-motile, Gram-positive
bacilli
that grow singly, as pairs, or in short chains. They are found in the human colon
and feces and have been implicated as a cause of ulcerative colitis
, liver and anal abscesses and systemic bacteremia.
The type strain for this genus, Eggerthella lenta, was known as Eubacterium lentum prior to 1999. The genus is named for Arnold Eggerth, who first described the organism in 1935.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of Actinobacteria
Actinobacteria
Actinobacteria are a group of Gram-positive bacteria with high guanine and cytosine content. They can be terrestrial or aquatic. Actinobacteria is one of the dominant phyla of the bacteria....
, in the family Coriobacteriaceae
Coriobacteriaceae
Coriobacteriaceae are a family of Actinobacteria, given their own subclass . -Phylogeny:-External links:*http://sn2000.taxonomy.nl/Main/Classification/111679.htm...
. Members of this genus are anaerobic
Anaerobic organism
An anaerobic organism or anaerobe is any organism that does not require oxygen for growth. It could possibly react negatively and may even die if oxygen is present...
, non-sporulating, non-motile, Gram-positive
Gram-positive
Gram-positive bacteria are those that are stained dark blue or violet by Gram staining. This is in contrast to Gram-negative bacteria, which cannot retain the crystal violet stain, instead taking up the counterstain and appearing red or pink...
bacilli
Bacilli
Bacilli refers to a taxonomic class of bacteria. It includes two orders, Bacillales and Lactobacillales, which contain several well-known pathogens like Bacillus anthracis .-Ambiguity:...
that grow singly, as pairs, or in short chains. They are found in the human colon
Colon (anatomy)
The colon is the last part of the digestive system in most vertebrates; it extracts water and salt from solid wastes before they are eliminated from the body, and is the site in which flora-aided fermentation of unabsorbed material occurs. Unlike the small intestine, the colon does not play a...
and feces and have been implicated as a cause of ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease . Ulcerative colitis is a form of colitis, a disease of the colon , that includes characteristic ulcers, or open sores. The main symptom of active disease is usually constant diarrhea mixed with blood, of gradual onset...
, liver and anal abscesses and systemic bacteremia.
The type strain for this genus, Eggerthella lenta, was known as Eubacterium lentum prior to 1999. The genus is named for Arnold Eggerth, who first described the organism in 1935.