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Physiological diversity of rumen spirochetes
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|March 1, 1982
Summary
Bovine rumen spirochetes ferment plant polymers like xylan and pectin, but not cellulose. These microbes are diverse, with distinct groups differing in fermentation products and cell structure, contributing to plant material degradation in ruminants.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Rumen microbiology
- Bacterial fermentation
Background:
- Bovine rumen hosts a diverse microbial community crucial for digesting plant material.
- Spirochetes are abundant in rumen fluid and possess the capability to ferment complex carbohydrates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the fermentative capabilities of bovine rumen spirochetes on various plant polymers and their hydrolysis products.
- To characterize different strains of rumen spirochetes based on their fermentation profiles, DNA base composition, and ultrastructure.
Main Methods:
- Culturing and enumeration of spirochetes from bovine rumen fluid.
- Fermentation assays using plant polymers (xylan, pectin, arabinogalactan, cellulose) and their hydrolysis products.
- Characterization of 13 spirochete strains via fermentation analysis, DNA G+C content determination, and electron microscopy.
Main Results:
- Spirochetes fermented xylan, pectin, and arabinogalactan, but not cellulose.
- Two distinct groups of spirochetes were identified: succinate-forming (2 fibrils, 36-38% G+C DNA) and ethanol-forming (8+ fibrils, 41-54% G+C DNA).
- Ethanol-forming strains showed greater morphological diversity and some could ferment pectin, starch, or arabinogalactan.
Conclusions:
- Bovine rumen harbors physiologically and morphologically diverse spirochete populations.
- Spirochetes play a significant role in the degradation of ingested plant materials by ruminants.
- Distinct spirochete groups contribute differently to the breakdown of complex plant polymers.