Short-chain fatty acid–producing bacterium

Short-chain fatty acid–producing bacteria are a functional group of gut microbes capable of fermenting dietary fibers and resistant starches to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), primarily acetate, propionate, and butyrate[1][3]. These bacteria are taxonomically diverse, including genera such as Bacteroides, Prevotella (Bacteroidetes phylum), and various Firmicutes (e.g., Lactobacillaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Faecalibacterium)[1][3][4][5][6]. SCFAs play key roles in maintaining gut homeostasis, modulating immune function, fueling colonocytes, and influencing systemic metabolism[2][3][6]. A deficiency in SCFA-producing bacteria has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic disorders, and some cancers[2][3][6]. While therapies aimed at boosting or modulating SCFA-producing bacteria (using diet, prebiotics, or probiotics) have been proposed, these bacteria themselves are not a single therapeutic target but are considered a functional microbial group or community[2][6]. **Note:** - "Short-chain fatty acid producer bacteria" is not a canonical molecule, protein, gene, or receptor but a collective descriptor for multiple microbial taxa with a shared function, which makes it an incorrect entry as a molecular target[1][2][3][4][5][6].

Other names

SCFA-producing bacteriumSCFA-producing bacteriashort-chain fatty acid producer