Blautia genus

Blautia is a genus of anaerobic, Gram-positive bacteria within the Lachnospiraceae family that represents a core component of the human gut microbiota [1, 3]. It plays a vital role in maintaining metabolic and immune homeostasis by fermenting dietary fibers into beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like acetate and propionate, which stimulate the colonic mucus barrier and reduce systemic inflammation [6, 16]. Research has identified specific strains, such as Blautia producta, that produce unique metabolites like 12-methylmyristic acid (12-MMA), which activate the G protein-coupled receptor GPR120 to improve lipid and glucose metabolism [7, 12]. Conversely, a significantly reduced abundance of Blautia is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and various neurodegenerative conditions, positioning the genus as a promising candidate for live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) [2, 4, 13]. Interactions with common pharmacological agents, including metformin and berberine, suggest that some drugs exert their therapeutic effects partially by modulating Blautia levels [12, 14]. However, the therapeutic development of this genus requires careful strain-level characterization to address potential safety concerns, such as the production of secondary bile acids or risk of translocation in severely immunocompromised patients [7, 15].

Other names

Blautia speciesBlautia spp.Lachnospiraceae genusRuminococcus (partially reclassified)Clostridium (partially reclassified)

Production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that activate host receptors such as GPR120 and FFAR2; production of 12-methylmyristic acid to regulate lipid homeostasis; and upregulation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) to suppress pro-inflammatory cytokine production [4, 12, 16].