Coprococcus eutactus

Coprococcus (ATCC 27759) is a genus of anaerobic cocci which are all part of the human faecal flora, but rarely seen in human clinical specimens.[1] "Coprococcus includes those gram-positive, anaerobic cocci that actively ferment carbohydrates, producing butyric and acetic acids with formic or propionic and/or lactic acids. Fermentable carbohydrates are either required or are highly stimulatory for growth and continued subculture." - Lillian V. Holdeman & W. E. C. Moore. The genus is bio-chemically closely related to Ruminococcus, and phylogenetically to the genus Lachnospira.

Coprococcus eutactus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Firmicutes
Class:	Clostridia
Order:	Clostridiales
Family:	Lachnospiraceae
Genus:	Coprococcus
Species:	C. eutactus
Binomial name
Coprococcus eutactus Holdeman & Moore, 1974

Coprococcus eutactus is an obligately anaerobic, nonmotile, gram-positive coccus occurring in pairs or chains of pairs. Cells may lose colour readily and acquire a slightly elongate shape in a medium containing a fermentable carbohydrate, but are normally round, and 0.7 to 1.3 µm in diameter.[2]

Coprococcus may be used as a microbial biomarker to assess the health of the human gastro-intestinal tract. Gut microorganisms maintain gastro-intestinal health and the mounting evidence of gastro-intestinal problems in autistic children makes a link between autism and intestinal microbiota highly probable, but the paucity of data on intestinal microflora means a definite link has not yet been demonstrated. Early studies overlooked potentially beneficial gut flora missing in autistic children.[3]