Utilization of nucleic acids by Selenomonas ruminantium and other ruminal bacteria

Species of ruminal bacteria were screened for the ability to grow in media containing RNA or DNA as the energy source. Bacteroides ruminicola D31d and Selenomonas ruminantium HD4, GA192, and D effectively used RNA for growth, but not DNA. B. ruminicola D31d was able grow on nucleosides but not on bases or ribose. The S. ruminantium strains were able to grow when provided with either nucleosides or ribose but not bases. Strains of S. ruminantium, but not B. ruminicola D31d, were also able to use nucleosides as nitrogen sources. These data suggest that RNA fermentation may be a general characteristic of S. ruminantium.