Ruthenibacterium lactatiformans
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Its ID gene: the stretch scientists read to tell microbes apart. Each bar is one letter of its DNA. Every species has its own order of letters, so the pattern works like a fingerprint. Close relatives share most of it.
16S rRNA gene, V4 region: the 253 letters between the standard primers (515F/806R), which are the same in every species. One reference sequence; strains can differ by a letter or two. NCBI NR_151900.1
Large for a gut microbe: longer than 72% of the 2,354 we have genomes for.
57% G+C, higher than 67% of gut microbes.
To scale: if its ID gene were 1 cm long, its genome would stretch 27 meters. Yours would stretch 21 kilometers. One reference genome; strains vary. NCBI GCF_000949455.1
What it can do
- Can make lactic acid What yogurt bacteria make; other microbes turn it into butyrate.
Not seen in its genomes or lab tests: make butyrate, make propionate, ferment fiber, eat inulin, eat resistant starch, eat pectin, use lactose, feed on gut mucus, change bile acids, make B vitamins, make hydrogen sulfide, make methane.
All 13 capabilities and their evidence
| Capability | Verdict | Genome analysis | Lab tests | Published research |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Can make butyrate | Not seen | 0 of 2 genomes | — | No papers |
| Can make propionate | Not seen | 0 of 2 genomes | — | No papers |
| Can make lactic acid | Can | 2 of 2 genomes | — | No papers |
| Can ferment fiber | Not seen | 0 of 2 genomes | 0 of 2 strains · strip test | No papers |
| Can eat inulin | Not seen | 0 of 2 genomes | — | No papers |
| Can eat resistant starch | Not seen | 0 of 2 genomes | — | No papers |
| Can eat pectin | Not seen | 0 of 2 genomes | — | No papers |
| Can use lactose | Not seen | 0 of 2 genomes | 0 of 2 strains | No papers |
| Can feed on gut mucus | Not seen | 0 of 2 genomes | — | No papers |
| Can change bile acids | Not seen | 0 of 2 genomes | — | No papers |
| Can make B vitamins | Not seen | 0 of 2 genomes | — | No papers |
| Can make hydrogen sulfide | Not seen | 0 of 2 genomes | — | No papers |
| Can make methane | Not seen | 0 of 2 genomes | — | No papers |
AGORA2 (Heinken et al. 2023) via VMH, CC BY 4.0 · BacDive (DSMZ), CC BY 4.0 · NJC19 (Lim et al., Scientific Data 2020), CC0
In healthy guts
Found in 70% of healthy people.
- largest Segatella copri 6.2%
- 2nd largest Phocaeicola vulgatus 5.0%
- 3rd largest Faecalibacterium prausnitzii 4.7%
- 4th largest Bacteroides uniformis 3.2%
- 5th largest Agathobacter rectalis 2.5%
- 6th largest Alistipes putredinis 2.3%
- 7th largest Bifidobacterium longum 2.1%
- 8th largest Ruminococcus bromii 1.8%
- top 90 Ruthenibacterium lactatiformans 0.2%
- 2,169 other microbes, each a sliver 56.5%
- 15.6%
On average, 0.2% of the microbes in a healthy gut: among the 90 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 6 conditions and more common in 5 conditions. 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 84% With it 89%
Carriers have about twice as much, in 3 of 3 studies (0.03% → 0.08% of their gut microbes).
- Parkinson's disease As many carry it in people with it Healthy 81% With it 84%
Carriers have slightly more, in 6 of 6 studies (0.11% → 0.13% of their gut microbes).
- Major depression As many carry it in people with it Healthy 81% With it 84%
Carriers have about 5 times as much, in 2 of 2 studies (0.03% → 0.13% of their gut microbes).
In studies of how people live
Higher in omnivores than vegans
Fackelmann 2025 · 21,561 people Landmark study
Higher in 5 of 5 cohorts
Higher in vegetarians than vegans
Fackelmann 2025 · 21,561 people Landmark study
Higher in 5 of 5 cohorts
“Higher” is the study’s measure: on average, a bigger share of gut bacteria across everyone in the group, carriers or not. It isn’t how many people carry it. An association the authors report, measured once per person. It doesn’t mean a diet changes this microbe, or that the microbe affects health.
Recent research
Source: PubMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine · 22 linked papers, last 10 years