What does this bacterium look like?
This bacterium is a small rod of approximately 1.5 to 2 micrometers long. That is small when you know that 1,000 micrometers fit into one millimeter. Agathobacter literally means “good bacterium”. The name is a contraction of the Greek “agathos”, which means “good”, and “bacter”, which means “bacteria”.
Some species are motile because they have a flagellum. A flagellum is nothing more than a tail that rotates very quickly to propel the bacterium forward. This is similar to the propeller of a submarine. 😉
What does science already know about this bacterium?
Not much yet. Agathobacter cannot tolerate oxygen well and is therefore difficult to grow in the lab. We do know that there are different species, such as Agathobacter rectalis and Agathobacter ruminis. The first species can be found in your gut, for example. The second species was originally isolated from the forestomach (or “rumen”) of ruminants.
We already know that the average genome size of Agathobacter varies between 2.5 and 3.5 million base pairs with more than 2,500 genes. This means that this bacterium can produce more than 2,500 different substances.
What is this bacterium doing in my gut?
Agathobacter performs useful work in your gut. This bacterium can process undigested food residues and thus produce useful substances, such as short-chain fatty acids (for example, butyrate and acetate). These substances have numerous benefits. For example, they can provide energy to your intestinal cells and thus contribute to a stronger intestinal wall (or intestinal lining). As a result, harmful substances are less likely to leak through the intestinal wall. Butyrate is also able to reduce inflammation. In this way, gut bacteria can strengthen your immune system and maintain peace in your gut.
But that’s not all! Certain intestinal bacteria can in turn use and further convert these beneficial substances. Consider Faecalibacterium, for example, which uses acetate to produce butyrate. In this way, gut bacteria work together in a network and help each other.
Does this bacterium occur elsewhere?
Agathobacter feels most at home in your gut. When this bacterium moves outside its familiar environment, it cannot survive very well because it is very sensitive to oxygen. Agathobacter has also been found in ruminants such as sheep and cows. This makes it clear that this bacterium likes to reside in a host and relies on (fiber-rich) food that is consumed.