Barnesiella is a genus of Gram-negative, obligate anaerobic bacteria within the phylum Bacteroidetes. It is a commensal member of the healthy human gut microbiota, recognized for its role in colonization resistance — the ability of the resident microbiome to prevent establishment of pathogenic or antibiotic-resistant organisms.
Barnesiella is consistently depleted in endometriosis-associated gut microbiome profiles. Studies examining the gut microbiota of women with endometriosis have found reduced Barnesiella abundance compared to healthy controls (ata 2019 endobiota study vaginal cervical gut microbiota endometriosis, cross-sectional; miyashira 2022 microbiome and endometriosis, review). This depletion pattern is part of a broader loss of commensal Bacteroidetes observed in the condition (ser 2023 current updates microbiome endometriosis review, narrative review). The functional consequence of Barnesiella loss may include reduced colonization resistance, allowing opportunistic taxa to expand in the dysbiotic gut environment characteristic of endometriosis.
Cross-References
- bacteroidetes — parent phylum
- endometriosis — primary condition of depletion
- endometriosis signature — signature page where Barnesiella depletion is documented