Romboutsia timonensis
Romboutsia timonensis is a species of Gram-positive, spore-forming, obligately anaerobic bacteria in the genus Romboutsia. The type strain was recovered from a colon lavage sample of a 63-year-old French man who presented with severe anaemia and melaena and underwent diagnostic colonoscopy at Hôpital de La Timone, Marseille.
Description
Cells are straight rods, catalase-negative, and form subterminal endospores. On Columbia agar with 5% sheep blood, colonies are ≤ 1 mm, circular, opaque, and cream-coloured after 48 h at 37 °C under anoxic conditions. Growth occurs from 25–45 °C and tolerates up to 2% bile salts. The genomic G + C content is 28.3 mol%.
Etymology
The species name timonensis refers to Hôpital de La Timone in Marseille, where the strain was first isolated.
Phylogeny
Based on 16S rRNA gene similarity, R. timonensis is most closely related to Romboutsia ilealis. It clusters within the class Clostridia, apart from the polyphyletic "Clostridium" sensu lato group.
Ecology
Metagenomic studies have detected Romboutsia species, including R. timonensis, at low abundance in adult and elderly gut microbiomes.