Keith N. Joblin

Phylogenetic Diversity of Archaea and Bacteria in the Anoxic Zone of a Meromictic Lake (Lake Pavin, France)

ABSTRACT The compositions of archaeal and bacterial populations at different depths (60 m [mixolimnion-chemocline interface], 70 m [chemocline-subchemocline interface], 90 m, and 92 m [the water-sediment interface]) in the anoxic zone of the water column in Lake Pavin, a freshwater permanently stratified mountain lake in France, were determined. Phylogenetic trees were constructed from sequences to assess archaeal and bacterial diversity at the four sites.

Isolation and identification of ruminal methanogens from grazing cattle.

Abstract. To obtain information on the diversity of ruminal methanogens in grazing animals, three ruminal methanogens from grazing cattle were characterized and identified. Two of the isolates were rod-shaped, with one staining Gram-positive and being non-motile (BRM9), and the other (BRM16) staining Gram-negative and being motile. These isolates grew only on H2/CO2 and formate, and optimally at 38°C and pH 6.5–7.0. The third isolate (CM1) was non-motile, pseudosarcina-shaped, and grew on H2/CO2, acetate, and methyl-containing compounds, with optimal growth at 40°C and pH 6.5. DNA was prepared from the three isolates, and their 16S rRNA genes were sequenced. Phenotypic data and comparisons of nearly complete 16S rDNA sequences showed that BRM9, BRM16, and CM1 are strains of Methanobacterium formicicum, Methanomicrobium mobile, and Methanosarcina barkeri respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first information on ruminal methanogens in cattle maintained under grazing management.

16S rDNA directed PCR primers and detection of methanogens in the bovine rumen

Aims:  To assess the diversity of ruminal methanogens in a grazing cow, and develop PCR primers targeting the predominant methanogens.

Biohydrogenation of C18 unsaturated fatty acids to stearic acid by a strain of Butyrivibrio hungatei from the bovine rumen

Aims: To identify a ruminal isolate which transforms oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids to stearic acid and to identify transient intermediates formed during biohydrogenation.

Establishment and development of ruminal hydrogenotrophs in methanogen-free lambs

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to determine whether reductive acetogenesis can provide an alternative to methanogenesis in the rumen. Gnotobiotic lambs were inoculated with a functional rumen microbiota lacking methanogens and reared to maturity on a fibrous diet. Lambs with a methanogen-free rumen grew well, and the feed intake and ruminal volatile fatty acid concentrations for lambs lacking ruminal methanogens were lower but not markedly dissimilar from those for conventional lambs reared on the same diet. A high population density (107 to 108 cells g−1) of ruminal acetogens slowly developed in methanogen-free lambs. Sulfate- and fumarate-reducing bacteria were present, but their population densities were highly variable. In methanogen-free lambs, the hydrogen capture from fermentation was low (28 to 46%) in comparison with that in lambs containing ruminal methanogens (>90%). Reductive acetogenesis was not a significant part of ruminal fermentation in conventional lambs but contributed 21 to 25% to the fermentation in methanogen-free meroxenic animals. Ruminal H2 utilization was lower in lambs lacking ruminal methanogens, but when a methanogen-free lamb was inoculated with a methanogen, the ruminal H2 utilization was similar to that in conventional lambs. H2 utilization in lambs containing a normal ruminal microflora was age dependent and increased with the animal age. The animal age effect was less marked in lambs lacking ruminal methanogens. Addition of fumarate to rumen contents from methanogen-free lambs increased H2 utilization. These findings provide the first evidence from animal studies that reductive acetogens can sustain a functional rumen and replace methanogens as a sink for H2 in the rumen.

Degradation of fresh ryegrass by methanogenic co-cultures of ruminal fungi grown in the presence or absence of Fibrobacter succinogenes.

The ability of five ruminal fungi in syntrophic co-culture with the methanogen Methanobrevibacter smithii to degrade perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) stem fragments and leaf blades was studied to determine the susceptibilities of non-autoclaved fresh tissues to fungal degradation. Autoclaving did not significantly increase fungal degradation of stem fragments but strongly increased degradation of leaf blades by a species of Caecomyces. In methanogenic co-cultures, non-autoclaved stem fragments were degraded more extensively by Neocallimastix frontalis and Piromyces isolates than by Caecomyces isolates. The N. frontalis and Piromyces isolates showed the greatest rates of stem degradation. When interactions between Fibrobacter succinogenes and methanogenic co-cultures of fungi growing on ryegrass stem were investigated, N. frontalis inhibited F. succinogenes. This has not been observed previously. In contrast, a Caecomyces species interacted positively with F. succinogenes to increase stem degradation, suggesting that F. succinogenes and Caecomyces spp. may have complementary fibrolytic activities. All five fungi tested failed to grow on fresh non-autoclaved leaf blades. In a repeat experiment with leaves from a separate harvest, leaf blades were degraded by N. frontalis but not by a Caecomyces species. We suggest that ryegrass leaf blades may contain natural anti-fungal compounds. Our results confirm the superiority of fungi in the degradation of intact stem and indicate that in vitro studies with non-autoclaved forage tissues may yield new information on forage factors affecting rumen microbes.

Xylanolysis by cocultures of the rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis and ruminal bacteria

The effect of fibrolytic and saccharolytic rumen bacteria on xylanolysis by the rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis has been investigated. In cocultivations N. frontalis interacted synergistically with Bacteroides ruminicola, Succinivibrio dextrin‐osolvens and Selenomonas ruminantium during xylan utilization. Xylan utilization decreased in cocultures containing Lachnospira multiparus or Streptococcus bovis. Ruminococcus flavefaciens appeared to inhibit fungal growth.

The effect of cocultivation with hydrogen-consuming bacteria on xylanolysis byRuminococcus flavefaciens

The rate and extent of xylan utilization and the specific activities of extracellular polysaccharide-degrading enzymes formed byRuminococcus flavefaciens FD1 were increased by cocultivation withMethanobrevibacter smithii PS. As a consequence of interspecies hydrogen transfer interactions, the fermentation became acetogenic; methane, not hydrogen, was formed, less succinate was produced, and formate did not accumulate in the coculture. Accumulation of xylobiose and xylose released during xylanolysis was transient in the methanogenic coculture. The interaction ofR. flavefaciens and the hydrogen-utilizing acetogenAcetitomaculum ruminis also resulted in an acetogenic fermentation, higher polysaccharolytic enzyme activities, and increased xylan utilization; the effects of cocultivation ofR. flavefaciens withEubacterium limosum were not so pronounced.

Degradation of lignified secondary cell walls of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) by rumen fungi growing in methanogenic co-culture.

Aims:  To compare the abilities of the monocentric rumen fungi Neocallimastix frontalis, Piromyces communis and Caecomyces communis, growing in coculture with Methanobrevibacter smithii, to colonize and degrade lignified secondary cell walls of lucerne (alfalfa) hay.

Effect of heterotrophic ruminal bacteria on xylan metabolism by the anaerobic fungus Piromyces communis

Six rumen bacteria were cocultured with the rumen fungus Piromyces communis and the effects on xylanolysis determined. The rate and extent of xylan utilization was enhanced in cocultures with Prevotella ruminicola or Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens. The positive effects of Suc. dextrinosolvens and Prev. ruminicola on xylanolysis by P. communis correlated with effective cross‐feeding by the bacteria on arabinose and xylose released from xylan. Xylanolysis was not enhanced in cocultures of P. communis with Streptococcus bovis, Veillonella parvula or Ruminococcus flavefaciens. A comparison of fermentation product profiles and of extracellular enzyme activities showed that whereas saccharolytic species and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens were dominant in cocultures, P. communis dominated in the culture with R. flavefaciens. Extracellular xylanase and β‐xylosidase activities were not increased by cocultivation of P. communis with any of the heterotrophic bacteria.