Methanobrevibacter


In taxonomy, Methanobrevibacter is a genus of the Methanobacteriaceae. The species within Methanobrevibacter are strictly anaerobic archaea that produce methane, for the most part through the reduction of carbon dioxide via hydrogen. Most species live in the intestines of larger organisms, such as termites and are responsible for the large quantities of greenhouse gases that they produce. Mbr. smithii, found in the human intestine, may play a role in obesity.

Nomenclature

The name Methanobrevibacter has Latin and Greek roots. Methanum is Latin for methane, brevi is Latin for short, and bacter is Greek for bar.
Professional publications use the abbreviations M., Mbb., and Mbr., as in M. smithii, Mbb. smithii, and Mbr. smithii.

Scientific journals

Scientific databases