Isolation of butyric acid producing xylanolytic bacteria from the rumen

Abstract

Xylans are major components of plant materials and a lot of the rumen bacterial species possess enzymes with xylanolytic activity. Recently we isolated eight xylanolytic strains from the rumen and determined metabolic end products, sugar fermentation profiles and enzymatic activities. All were Gram-negative, rod-like (except one coccoid), butyric acid producing bacteria that possess xylan-inducible xylanases. Four groups of isolates were provisionally founded (A, B, C, D). Most of the strains can not be classified into any of the established rumen xylanolytic species and further genotypic and phenotypic characterisation are needed in order to confirm our findings, suggesting the discovery of new rumen bacterial species.