What does this bacterium look like?
Gemella has a round shape. This bacterium often occurs alone or in pairs. Gemella has a thick cell wall and is about 0.5 to 1 micrometer in size. In general, this bacterium prefers to grow in low-oxygen environments.
What does science already know about this bacterium?
Gemella is found in the human body in places that contain “mucus” such as the mouth. This bacterium is part of a healthy microbiome, but it can also cause disease in some circumstances. However, this mainly happens in people with lowered immunity.
What is this bacterium doing in my mouth?
Gemella is part of a healthy oral microbiome and most species will be harmless. In fact, research has shown that a specific species of this bacterium from this group, Gemella haemolysans, was more prevalent in healthy people than in those who suffered from periodontal disease, such as severe gum disease.
Does this bacterium occur elsewhere?
Gemella is mainly detected in the mouth, but also resides in the intestines and sometimes in the vagina. In the vagina, variants of this bacterium can play a role in bacterial vaginosis, a common condition characterized, for example, by itching or an unpleasant discharge. Furthermore, this bacterium also lives in other warm-blooded animals such as rabbits and sheep.