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Prevotella

Genus of bacteria

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Prevotella species are widely distributed across varied ecological habitats, with 63 characterized species spanning both human and other mammalian hosts. In mammals, this genus is notably prevalent in the swine gut microbiome.

In humans, Prevotella species are members of the oral, vaginal, and gut microbiota and are often recovered from anaerobic infections of the respiratory tract. These infections include aspiration pneumonia, lung abscess, pulmonary empyema, and chronic otitis media and sinusitis. They have been isolated from abscesses and burns in the vicinity of the mouth, bites, paronychia, urinary tract infection, brain abscesses, osteomyelitis, and bacteremia associated with upper respiratory tract infections. Prevotella spp. predominate in periodontal disease and periodontal abscesses.

Role in gut microbiota

The human gut is mainly inhabited by two phyla of bacteria, Bacillota and Bacteroidota. Bacteroidota is mostly dominated by Bacteroides and Prevotella genera. Prevotella and Bacteroides are thought to have had a common ancestor. Formally, the two genera were differentiated in 1990. However classification is ongoing. For example, Bacteroides melaninogenicus has been reclassified and split into Prevotella melaninogenica and Prevotella intermedia.

Either Prevotella or Bacteroides dominate the gut and may be antagonistic. Prevotella is more common in non-Westernised populations consuming a plant-rich diet. In Western populations it has been associated with diets rich in fruits and vegetables. Genome analysis of Prevotella copri showed it was deficient in the ability to degrade host glycans and is more genetically equipped for plant glycan degradation. In a study of gut bacteria of children in Burkina Faso, Prevotella made up 53% of the gut bacteria but were absent in age-matched European children.

Long-term diet is reported to be associated with gut microbiome composition: those who eat protein and animal fats have predominantly Bacteroides bacteria, while those who consume more carbohydrates, especially fibre, feature Prevotella species.

Prevotella is associated with gut inflammation. Increased levels of P. copri might contribute to chronic inflammation in HIV patients. Single species isolate P. copri CB7 has been reported to be beneficial or detrimental, depending on context. The genus Prevotella exhibits significant genetic diversity, particularly between species associated with humans and those found in other animals. This diversity is highlighted by distinct evolutionary paths and genome sizes, with ranging base pair sizes and notable variation in G+C content. Human-related Prevotella species tend to group separately from those in animals such as swine and ruminants. In addition to genetic and overall microbiota differences, Prevotella's high genetic diversity makes it difficult to predict their function, which can vary across individuals.

There have also been studies uncovering the role of bacteriophages, including the discovery of megaphages in the large intestine associated with Prevotella, highlighting the potential for these phages to influence microbial populations within the host microbiome.

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GenusTaxonomic rank above species and below familyFamily (taxonomy)Taxonomic rank between genus and orderEndemismState of species being unique to a locationCladeGroup of a common ancestor and all of their descendantsGenomeAll genetic material of an organismOrder (taxonomy)Taxonomic rank between class and family