Clostridium
Formerly Anaerobacter.
Species in this genus
* Counted in the same healthy people as the species (whole-genome samples). All bars use the same 0–100% scale. A product with two Clostridium species counts once in the genus total.
Its species' DNA
Clostridium genomes run from 2.5M to 5.7M: large for gut microbes.
One reference genome per species; strains vary.
16S gene, V4 region, from one reference sequence per species, aligned so the same positions line up. A blank is a gap: letters other species have and this one lacks. Switch to “Only where they differ” to fade the letters they share.
What its species can do
A species counts when most of its strains can. Not measured in anyone's gut. 15 of its 37 species aren't in either source yet.
- Can make butyrate 12 of 19 species C. innocuum, C. perfringens, C. paraputrificum, C. celatum, C. disporicum, C. tertium and 6 more
- Can make lactic acid 8 of 19 species C. perfringens, C. paraputrificum, C. tertium, C. butyricum, C. baratii, C. cadaveris and 2 more
- Can use lactose 8 of 21 species C. perfringens, C. paraputrificum, C. neonatale, C. celatum, C. tertium, C. butyricum and 2 more
- Can make propionate 6 of 19 species C. perfringens, C. paraputrificum, C. baratii, C. cadaveris, C. sporogenes, C. sulfidigenes
- Can ferment fiber 5 of 22 species C. innocuum, C. perfringens, C. neonatale, C. disporicum, C. butyricum
- Can eat inulin 3 of 21 species C. innocuum, C. perfringens, C. butyricum
- Can eat pectin 1 of 19 species C. butyricum
- Can change bile acids 1 of 19 species C. perfringens
- Can make B vitamins 1 of 19 species C. sporogenes
- Can make hydrogen sulfide 1 of 19 species C. sulfidigenes
- Can eat resistant starch 0 of 19 species None of its species
- Can feed on gut mucus 0 of 19 species None of its species
- Can make methane 0 of 19 species None of its species
In healthy guts
Found in 91% of healthy people.
- largest Bacteroides 9.8%
- 2nd largest Phocaeicola 9.1%
- 3rd largest Segatella 6.4%
- 4th largest Bifidobacterium 6.2%
- 5th largest Faecalibacterium 5.4%
- 6th largest Alistipes 5.2%
- 7th largest Blautia 3.6%
- 8th largest Ruminococcus 3.0%
- top 20 Clostridium 1.3%
- 649 other microbes, each a sliver 31.1%
- 18.9%
On average, 1.3% of the microbes in a healthy gut: among the 20 largest slices.
Every group, drawn the same way. Only some samples record age or sex, so each group says how many people it comes from. Tap one to see it above.
In conditions
Compared with healthy people in the same studies, it’s less common in 4 conditions and more common in 1 condition. Only studies that had both are counted.
A difference is an association: it doesn’t mean this microbe causes, prevents or treats any of these.
Strongest first, then the biggest gap · Each figure is 10 people- Chronic fatigue syndrome As many carry it in people with it Healthy 99% With it 97%
Carriers have less, in 3 of 3 studies (1.0% → 0.80% of their gut microbes).
- Spinal cord injury As many carry it in people with it Healthy 98% With it 95%
Carriers have about a third as much, in 2 of 2 studies (1.1% → 0.42% of their gut microbes).
- Polycystic ovary syndrome As many carry it in people with it Healthy 81% With it 78%
Carriers have more, in 2 of 2 studies (0.76% → 0.98% of their gut microbes).