atopobium atopobium atopobium is a genus of actinomycetota, in the family coriobacteriaceae. atopobium species are anaerobic, gram-positive rod-shaped or elliptical bacteria found as single elements or in pairs or short chains. atopobium scientific classification domain: bacteria phylum: actinomycetota class: coriobacteriia order: coriobacteriales family: atopobiaceae genus: atopobiumcollins and wallbanks 1993 species a. deltae cools et al. 2014 "a. detroiti" salimnia et al. 2008 a. fossor (bailey and love 1986) kageyama et al. 1999 "a. massiliense" bordigoni et al. 2020 a. minutum (hauduroy et al. 1937) collins and wallbanks 1993 atopobium vaginae was discovered in 1999. this is a facultative anaerobic bacteria, which form small colonies on blood agar at 37 °c is also positive for acid phosphatase. this species has now been reclassified into the genus fannyhessea following phylogenetic studies. clinical significance the genus atopobium may be associated with bacterial vaginosis. the genus may play a role in the development of colorectal cancer. while the genus has been reported as overrepresented in feces of patients, a. minutum has conversely shown a mild apoptotic effect on cancer cells in vitro and has been suggested to be comparable to probiotic bacteria in regards to colorectal cancer.