Bacteroides (Noun)
Meaning
Type genus of Bacteroidaceae; genus of Gram-negative rodlike anaerobic bacteria producing no endospores and no pigment and living in the gut of man and animals.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The gut microbiota of cats primarily consists of Firmicutes, Fusobacteriaceae and Bacteroides.
- Bacteria of the genus Bacteroides are anaerobic, which means they do not survive in the presence of oxygen.
- Studies have shown that the balance of the genera Bacteroides and Firmicutes in the gut can significantly affect the overall health and well-being of an individual.
- Bacteroides are known to play a crucial role in the digestion and breakdown of complex carbohydrates found in plant material in the gut of ruminant animals.
- Bacteroides infection is an opportunistic type of infection, as they are normally harmless and are only a problem when they somehow manage to evade or overwhelm the host's defenses.