Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota

Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota

The phylum Bacteroidota includes over 700 species classified into four primary orders: Bacteroidales, Cytophagales, Flavobacteriales, and Sphingobacteriales. These gram-negative, non-sporulating rods exhibit saccharolytic capabilities and can be aerobic or fermentative, encompassing obligate aerobes, facultative aerobes, and obligate anaerobes. Many species display gliding motility, though some are nonmotile or use flagella. The genus Bacteroides is well-studied due to its significant role in...

Bacterial Phylum Firmicutes

Bacterial Phylum Firmicutes

Firmicutes is a diverse phylum of Gram-positive bacteria characterized by a low GC content in their genomes. This phylum includes organisms with monoderm or diderm cell envelopes, highlighting a complex evolutionary history. Firmicutes comprises several major orders, including Lactobacillales, Clostridiales, and Bacillales, which exhibit remarkable diversity in their morphology, metabolism, and ecological roles.The order Lactobacillales includes lactic acid bacteria, which are fermentative...

Bacterial Phylum Proteobacteria

Bacterial Phylum Proteobacteria

Proteobacteria, one of the largest and most diverse bacterial phyla, encompasses a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria distinguished by their outer membrane composed of lipopolysaccharides. These microorganisms exhibit various metabolic capabilities, including phototrophy, chemolithotrophy, and heterotrophy, and thrive in diverse environments from soil to aquatic systems and host-associated niches. The phylum is divided into six classes: Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria,...

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...

Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract

Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract

The human urogenital system, once thought to be sterile in healthy individuals, is now recognized as a complex microbial habitat. Advancements in molecular sequencing techniques have revealed that even in healthy adults, the kidneys and bladder harbor microbial populations similar to those found in the distal urethra, albeit in much lower abundance. These resident microorganisms, while generally innocuous, can become opportunistic pathogens under conditions that alter the urogenital...

Functions of the Gut Microbiota

Functions of the Gut Microbiota

The gut microbiota includes trillions of microorganisms that colonize the human gastrointestinal tract, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi. This complex ecosystem plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal and systemic health. Most of these microbes inhabit the large intestine, establishing a relatively stable and diverse community that contributes to gut homeostasis through various metabolic, immunological, and protective mechanisms.Dominant bacterial phyla, such as...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Correction: Analysis of early childhood intestinal microbial dynamics in a continuous-flow bioreactor.

Microbiome·2026

Same author

Colonic Goblet Cell Activity and Proinflammatory Responses Are Spatially Regulated in the Colon in Citrobacter rodentium Infections.

The American journal of pathology·2026

Same author

Anthropogenic stressors drive microbiome assembly: A global meta-analysis of bumble bees.

The Science of the total environment·2026

Same author

Microbes first into the life rafts: preserving microbiomes to secure health in degrading ecosystems.

Sustainable microbiology·2026

Same author

A comparison of catheter lock solutions and associated complications in pediatric intestinal failure patients.

Intestinal Failure (New York, N.Y.)·2026

Same author

<i>Enterocloster citroniae</i> and related gut microbiome species modulate <i>Vibrio cholerae</i> biofilm formation through the production of bioactive small molecules.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

Identification of Rare Bacterial Pathogens by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS

Identification of Rare Bacterial Pathogens by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS

Published on: July 11, 2016

Fusobacterium nucleatum: an emerging gut pathogen?

Emma Allen-Vercoe¹, Jaclyn Strauss, Kris Chadee

¹Molecular and Cellular Biology; University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.

|November 10, 2011

Summary

Fusobacterium nucleatum, a gut bacterium, shows varied effects on host cells, potentially causing diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Its impact depends on the specific bacterial strains and the surrounding microbial community.

More Related Videos

Identification of Virulence Markers of Mycobacterium abscessus for Intracellular Replication in Phagocytes

Identification of Virulence Markers of Mycobacterium abscessus for Intracellular Replication in Phagocytes

Published on: September 27, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 27, 2026

Identification of Rare Bacterial Pathogens by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS

Identification of Rare Bacterial Pathogens by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS

Published on: July 11, 2016

Identification of Virulence Markers of Mycobacterium abscessus for Intracellular Replication in Phagocytes

Identification of Virulence Markers of Mycobacterium abscessus for Intracellular Replication in Phagocytes

Published on: September 27, 2018

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Gastroenterology
Pathogen Research

Background:

Fusobacterium nucleatum is a Gram-negative, anaerobic bacterium.
It is increasingly recognized as a pathogen linked to various diseases.
Recent findings indicate F. nucleatum is a more frequent inhabitant of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract than previously understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the virulence potential of Fusobacterium nucleatum within the gut environment.
To understand the role of F. nucleatum in gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
To explore strain-specific variations in the pathogenicity of F. nucleatum.

Main Methods:

Studies focused on assessing the pathogenic traits of F. nucleatum relevant to gut health.
Analysis of strain-associated differences in virulence factors.
Investigation of host-microbe interactions within the GI tract.

Main Results:

F. nucleatum exhibits several pathogenic traits associated with gut diseases like IBD.
Significant variations in virulence were observed among different strains of F. nucleatum.
The bacterium can exert both beneficial and detrimental effects on host cells.

Conclusions:

The overall impact of F. nucleatum in the gut is complex and context-dependent.
Strain variability and interactions with other gut microbes significantly influence the pathogenic or commensal role of F. nucleatum.
Further research is needed to fully elucidate the dual role of F. nucleatum in gut health and disease.