Veillonella Species: Phylogenetic Analysis and Clinical Implications
Summary
Veillonella spp. are obligate anaerobic, Gram-negative cocci that form a core component of the human oral, gastrointestinal and genitourinary microbiota. Phylogenetic frameworks based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, multilocus sequence analysis and whole-genome comparisons have delineated eight principal species, revealing an open pan-genome structure that drives ongoing diversification. Average nucleotide identity and core-gene phylogenies have clarified species boundaries and uncovered lineage-specific gene clusters associated with carbohydrate metabolism and stress tolerance. Clinically, Veillonella species have emerged as opportunistic pathogens involved in endocarditis, osteomyelitis, discitis, prosthetic joint and surgical-site infections. Quantitative measures of Veillonella colonisation serve both as indicators of oral hygiene status and as prognostic markers for postoperative complications. Accurate taxonomic assignment informs diagnostic workflows and guides targeted antimicrobial therapy, while comparative genomics offers potential for the development of novel probiotic or performance-enhancing applications. Taken together, phylogenetic insights and clinical studies underscore the global significance of Veillonella both as a model for microbial evolution and as a contributor to human disease.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Veillonella Species: Phylogenetic Analysis and Clinical Implications publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in veillonella species: phylogenetic analysis and clinical implications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
16S rRNA gene sequencing: Determination of bacterial phylogeny and taxonomy by analysing the conserved ribosomal RNA gene.
Average nucleotide identity (ANI): Genome-wide similarity metric used to delineate bacterial species boundaries.
Pan-genome: The total gene repertoire of all strains within a species, encompassing core and accessory genes.
Obligate anaerobe: Microorganism that grows only in the absence of oxygen.
Commensal: Organism that resides within a host without causing disease under normal conditions.
References
- Comparative Pan-Genome Analysis of Oral Veillonella Species. Microorganisms (2021).
- Role of Oral Veillonella Species in Predicting Surgical Site Infections After Maxillofacial Trauma: A Prospective Observational Study. Cureus (2024).
- Severe disseminated Veillonella parvula infection including endocarditis, bilateral psoas abscess, discitis, and osteomyelitis but sparing spinal and hip prostheses: a case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports (2022).
- Taxonomic Affiliation of New Genomes Should Be Verified Using Average Nucleotide Identity and Multilocus Phylogenetic Analysis. Microbiology Resource Announcements (2014).
- Comparative Genomics Uncovers the Genetic Diversity and Characters of Veillonella atypica and Provides Insights Into Its Potential Applications. Frontiers in Microbiology (2020).
About these summaries
This Nature Research Intelligence Topic summary is created with the cited references and a large language model. We take care to ground generated text with facts, and have systems in place to gain human feedback on the overall quality of the process in line with our AI principles. We strive to create accurate and useful summaries for people unfamiliar with the research topic and that supports this goal. These pages are a beta release and will be updated as we learn how best to help people gain value from a research topic summary.
Nature Index 2026 Regenerative medicine
Regenerative medicine has the potential to transform the treatment of chronic and life-threatening diseases. But major challenges remain, such as overcoming immune rejection and ensuring that new therapies are developed using more inclusive data sets. In this supplement, we explore the discoveries that are driving the field, the barriers that could limit its progress, and the teams and institutions that are making their mark.
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.