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Ruminococcaceae

Meaning

Ruminococcaceae is a large, diverse, and functionally critical family of strictly anaerobic bacteria within the phylum Firmicutes, which are highly abundant and significant inhabitants of the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. These essential microbes are universally recognized as primary degraders of complex plant polysaccharides, playing a vital role in fermenting otherwise indigestible dietary fiber into beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) crucial for host energy and intestinal health. Their collective metabolic output significantly influences systemic energy metabolism, immune function, and the gut-hormone axis.