Butyrivibrio is a genus of Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic bacteria within the family Lachnospiraceae (phylum Firmicutes). Originally characterized as a dominant fiber-fermenting genus in the rumen, Butyrivibrio species are also found in the human colon where they contribute to butyrate production through fermentation of complex plant polysaccharides including xylan and cellulose.
As a butyrate producer, Butyrivibrio supports colonic epithelial integrity and anti-inflammatory signaling. Its depletion has been documented across several disease states. In endometriosis, stool microbial profiling identified reduced Butyrivibrio abundance as part of a broader loss of short-chain fatty acid producers ([1], cross-sectional). Mendelian randomization analyses have linked genetically predicted Butyrivibrio abundance to reduced autoimmune thyroid disease risk ([2], Mendelian randomization). The genus is also depleted in perimenopausal panic disorder, consistent with the pattern of butyrate-producing taxa loss in conditions involving gut-brain axis disruption ([3], cross-sectional).
Cross-References
- lachnospiraceae — parent family
- short chain fatty acids — primary metabolic output
- anaerostipes — co-depleted butyrate producer in multiple conditions
- endometriosis — condition of depletion