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Ruminococcus
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<p><i>Ruminococcus</i> is a genus of bacteria in the class <a href="/facts/Clostridia/g3mSz5XP">Clostridia</a>. They are anaerobic, <a href="/facts/Gram-positive/H6WYQ17e">Gram-positive</a> <a href="/facts/Gut_flora/Xy1IWzSP">gut microbes</a>. One or more species in this genus are found in significant numbers in the human <a href="/facts/Gut_microbiota/Xy1IWzSP">gut microbiota</a>. The type species is <i>R. flavefaciens</i>. As usual, bacteria taxonomy is in flux, with Clostridia being <a href="/facts/Paraphyly/tmTWjACz">paraphyletic</a>, and some erroneous members of <i>Ruminococcus</i> being reassigned to a new genus <i><a href="/facts/Blautia/GHtCnNae">Blautia</a></i> on the basis of <a href="/facts/16S_ribosomal_RNA/XCgSahoy">16S rRNA</a> gene sequences. </p><p>One of the most highly cited papers involving the genus <i>Ruminococcus</i> is a paper describing <a href="/facts/Interspecies_hydrogen_transfer/6S2T5FJN">interspecies hydrogen transfer</a> between <i>Ruminococcus albus</i> and <i><a href="/facts/Wolinella/AJUc5zHE">Wolinella</a> succinogenes</i>. </p><p>In 1972, <i>Ruminococcus bromii</i> was reportedly found in the human gut, which was the first of several species discovered. They may play a role in plant cell wall breakdown in the <a href="/facts/Large_intestine/vQtlNBv9">colon</a>. </p><p>One study found that <i>R. albus</i>, <i>R. callidus</i>, and <i>R. bromii</i> are less abundant in people with <a href="/facts/Inflammatory_bowel_disease/RuxcPW5A">inflammatory bowel disease</a>. <i>Ruminococcus</i> are also less abundant in patients with <a href="/facts/Parkinson%2527s_disease/xpekKj6x">Parkinson's disease</a> and <a href="/facts/Amyotrophic_lateral_sclerosis/9fIXnNL4">amyotrophic lateral sclerosis</a>. <i>R. gnavus</i> is associated with <a href="/facts/Crohn%2527s_disease/zm55cBtd">Crohn's disease</a>. </p>