Tyzzerella is a genus of Gram-positive, strictly anaerobic bacteria within the family Lachnospiraceae (order Clostridiales, phylum Firmicutes). It was recently reclassified from Clostridium cluster XIVa and remains poorly characterized at the species level.
The genus includes at least two recognized subgroups in microbiome literature—Tyzzerella and Tyzzerella 3—which may have distinct ecological roles.
What makes Tyzzerella notable is its contradictory signal across disease contexts: enriched in breast cancer and postpartum depression, yet genetically predicted to be protective against colorectal and ovarian cancer. This dual role suggests that the genus contains functionally distinct strains or subgroups whose contributions depend on the ecological context.
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Its enrichment in breast cancer (38% of BCa patients vs. 20% of controls) suggests it can expand in dysbiotic conditions (, case-control, n=86).
In postpartum depression, Tyzzerella.3 abundance negatively correlated with both EPDS and 17-HAMD depression severity scores, meaning higher abundance associated with lower depression severity—an apparently protective signal that contrasts with its cancer enrichment (, cross-sectional).
Breast cancer: Present in 38% of BCa cases vs. 20% of controls by LEfSe analysis (LDA 2). Unlike the co-enriched genera Acidaminococcus and Hungatella, Tyzzerella presence was not associated with specific dietary intake patterns (, case-control, n=86).
Colorectal cancer: Genus Tyzzerella 3 was causally associated with reduced CRC risk (OR = 0.991, P = 5.43 x 10^-4) at genome-wide significance (, computational-prediction).
Ovarian cancer: Tyzzerella 3 identified as causally protective against ovarian cancer alongside Christensenellaceae R-7 group (, computational-prediction).
Postpartum depression: Tyzzerella.3 negatively correlated with EPDS and 17-HAMD scores, suggesting a mood-protective role possibly mediated through SCFA production or neuroactive metabolites (, cross-sectional).
| Study | Finding | Evidence Level | |-------|---------|---------------| | | Tyzzerella 3 causally protective against CRC (OR=0.991, P=5.43e-4) | Computational prediction | | | Enriched in breast cancer (38% vs 20%) | Case-control | | | Protective against ovarian cancer (MR) | Computational prediction | | | Negatively correlated with PPD severity | Cross-sec
Contents
1. Metal Dependencies2. Key Enzymes and Virulence Factors3. Ecological Role4. Conditions Associated5. Key Studies6. Cross-ReferencesMetal Dependencies#
As a member of the Lachnospiraceae, Tyzzerella likely shares the family's dependence on iron for anaerobic fermentation enzymes, though species-level metal dependency data is lacking. Its ecological behavior—depleted in some metal-disturbed environments, enriched in others—is consistent with variable metal tolerance across strains.
Key Enzymes and Virulence Factors#
The enzymatic profile of Tyzzerella remains largely uncharacterized. Based on its phylogenetic placement within Lachnospiraceae. It likely participates in carbohydrate fermentation producing short-chain fatty acids, though whether it is primarily a Butyrate or acetate producer is not yet established.
No specific virulence factors have been described, but its enrichment in cancer may relate to metabolite production that modulates immune surveillance or epithelial proliferation.
Ecological Role#
Tyzzerella is a low-abundance member of the gut community whose ecological significance has only become apparent through large-scale sequencing studies and Mendelian randomization analyses. In the healthy gut, it is present at low levels as part of the Lachnospiraceae community.
Its enrichment in breast cancer (38% of BCa patients vs. 20% of controls) suggests it can expand in dysbiotic conditions (,[1]Association between Gut Microbiota and Breast Cancer: Diet as a Potential Modulating FactorAltinok Dindar D, Chun B, Palma A et al. · 2023Open reference 1 ↓ case-control, n=86).
In postpartum depression, Tyzzerella.3 abundance negatively correlated with both EPDS and 17-HAMD depression severity scores, meaning higher abundance associated with lower depression severity—an apparently protective signal that contrasts with its cancer enrichment (,[2]Zhou 2020 — Fecal Microbiota Changes in Patients With Postpartum Depressive DisorderYumei Zhou, Chen Chen, Haibo Yu et al. · 2020Open reference 2 ↓ cross-sectional).
Conditions Associated#
Enriched in:#
- Breast cancer: Present in 38% of BCa cases vs. 20% of controls by LEfSe analysis (LDA >2). Unlike the co-enriched genera Acidaminococcus and Hungatella, Tyzzerella presence was not associated with specific dietary intake patterns (,[1]Association between Gut Microbiota and Breast Cancer: Diet as a Potential Modulating FactorAltinok Dindar D, Chun B, Palma A et al. · 2023Open reference 1 ↓ case-control, n=86).
Protective associations (Mendelian randomization):#
Colorectal cancer: Genus Tyzzerella 3 was causally associated with reduced CRC risk (OR = 0.991, P = 5.43 x 10^-4) at genome-wide significance (,[3]Causal Relationship between Gut Microbiota and Cancers: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomisation StudyLong Y, Tang L, Zhou Y et al. · 2023Open reference 3 ↓ computational-prediction).
Ovarian cancer: Tyzzerella 3 identified as causally protective against ovarian cancer alongside Christensenellaceae R-7 group (,[4]Chen 2025 — Causal Relationships of Gut Microbiota and Blood Metabolites with Ovarian Cancer and Endometrial Cancer: A Mendelian Randomization StudyChen J, Chen X, Ma J · 2025Open reference 4 ↓ computational-prediction).
Depression severity correlations:#
- Postpartum depression: Tyzzerella.3 negatively correlated with EPDS and 17-HAMD scores, suggesting a mood-protective role possibly mediated through SCFA production or neuroactive metabolites (,[2]Zhou 2020 — Fecal Microbiota Changes in Patients With Postpartum Depressive DisorderYumei Zhou, Chen Chen, Haibo Yu et al. · 2020Open reference 2 ↓ cross-sectional).
Key Studies#
| Study | Finding | Evidence Level |
|---|---|---|
| [3]Causal Relationship between Gut Microbiota and Cancers: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomisation StudyLong Y, Tang L, Zhou Y et al. · 2023Open reference 3 ↓ | Tyzzerella 3 causally protective against CRC (OR=0.991, P=5.43e-4) | Computational prediction |
| [1]Association between Gut Microbiota and Breast Cancer: Diet as a Potential Modulating FactorAltinok Dindar D, Chun B, Palma A et al. · 2023Open reference 1 ↓ | Enriched in breast cancer (38% vs 20%) | Case-control |
| [4]Chen 2025 — Causal Relationships of Gut Microbiota and Blood Metabolites with Ovarian Cancer and Endometrial Cancer: A Mendelian Randomization StudyChen J, Chen X, Ma J · 2025Open reference 4 ↓ | Protective against ovarian cancer (MR) | Computational prediction |
| [2]Zhou 2020 — Fecal Microbiota Changes in Patients With Postpartum Depressive DisorderYumei Zhou, Chen Chen, Haibo Yu et al. · 2020Open reference 2 ↓ | Negatively correlated with PPD severity | Cross-sectional |
Cross-References#
- Lachnospiraceae (Family)—parent family
- Christensenellaceae—co-identified protective taxon in ovarian cancer MR
- Breast Cancer—enrichment in BCa patients
- Postpartum Depression—mood-protective correlation
- Colorectal Cancer—causal protection via MR
- Ovarian Cancer—causal protection via MR
References 9
Numbered by first appearance in the article, then reconciled with its declared source list.
- 1
Altinok Dindar D, Chun B, Palma A et al. (2023). Association between Gut Microbiota and Breast Cancer: Diet as a Potential Modulating Factor. Nutrients.
- 2
Yumei Zhou, Chen Chen, Haibo Yu et al. (2020). Zhou 2020 — Fecal Microbiota Changes in Patients With Postpartum Depressive Disorder. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.
- 3
Long Y, Tang L, Zhou Y et al. (2023). Causal Relationship between Gut Microbiota and Cancers: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomisation Study. BMC Medicine.
- 4
Chen J, Chen X, Ma J (2025). Chen 2025 — Causal Relationships of Gut Microbiota and Blood Metabolites with Ovarian Cancer and Endometrial Cancer: A Mendelian Randomization Study. Journal of Ovarian Research.
- 5
Minshi Huang, Jun Liu, Kevin Liu et al. (2021). Huang 2021 — Microbiome-Specific Statistical Modeling Identifies Interplay Between GI Microbiome and Neurobehavioral Outcomes in ASD. Frontiers in Psychiatry.
- 6
Rui-Jun Li, Zhu-Ye Jie, Qiang Feng et al. (2021). Network of Interactions Between Gut Microbiome, Host Biomarkers, and Urine Metabolome in Carotid Atherosclerosis. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.
- 7
Quanxin Su, Yanxi Long, Yayin Luo et al. (2023). Su 2023 — Specific Gut Microbiota May Increase the Risk of Erectile Dysfunction (Two-Sample MR). Frontiers in Endocrinology.
- 8
Chen et al. (2024). Chen 2024 — Causal Gut Microbiota in Male Erectile Dysfunction (MR). Frontiers in Microbiology.
- 9
Zhang et al. (2023). Zhang 2023 — Causal Gut Microbiota and Erectile Dysfunction (Mendelian Randomization). Frontiers in Microbiology.
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