Overview
Finegoldia is a genus of Gram-positive, strictly anaerobic cocci, with Finegoldia magna as the primary species of clinical relevance. Formerly classified within Peptostreptococcus, this organism inhabits mucosal surfaces including the vaginal, skin, and gastrointestinal microbiomes.
Reproductive Tract Associations
Finegoldia is a recognized component of both the vaginal and seminal microbiomes. In endometriosis, it appears as part of the altered vaginal microbial community, potentially contributing to local inflammatory cascades (ser 2023 current updates microbiome endometriosis review). It has also been identified in male reproductive tract microbiome profiling, where its presence correlates with compositional shifts associated with subfertility (molina morales 2023 male reproductive tract microbiome).
Gut-Brain Axis Associations
Maternal gut Finegoldia abundance has been associated with postpartum depression (PPD) and infant neurodevelopmental outcomes, positioning this genus within the gut-brain axis during the perinatal period (zhou 2024 maternal ppd infant neurodevelopment gut microbiota).
Cross-References
- endometriosis — vaginal microbiome associations
- postpartum depression — maternal gut microbiome and PPD
- semen microbiome — male reproductive tract presence
- peptostreptococcus — former taxonomic classification