Coprococcus is a genus of obligately anaerobic, nonmotile, Gram-positive cocci that are part of the human and animal gut microbiota.
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.
Depletion of Coprococcus has been reported in patients with colorectal cancer, although a direct protective role remains to be fully established.
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.Yang et al. (2022). Identification of a gut commensal that compromises the blood pressure-lowering effect of ester angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.121.18711. Hypertension. 2022;79:1591–1601.
Phylogeny The currently accepted taxonomy is based on the List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature (LPSN) and the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
16S rRNA-based LTP_10_2024 120 marker gene-based GTDB 09-RS220
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
References