日粮中添加不同比例微贮棉秆对湖羊瘤胃微生物区系的影响

【目的】本试验旨在利用16SrDNA高通量测序技术研究不同比例微贮棉秆的添加对断奶湖羊瘤胃微生物区系的影响。【方法】选择日龄相近、体重相似的湖羊30只,根据日粮中微贮棉秆的含量随机分为3组:对照组(S0)、50%微贮棉秆组(S50)和100%微贮棉秆组(S100),每组随机屠宰6只分析生长性能,并取瘤胃液进行瘤胃发酵参数和微生物区系分析。【结果】饲喂50%微贮棉秆能够显著提高湖羊日增重和屠宰率(P0.05)。Bacteroidetes和Firmicutes是湖羊瘤胃的优势菌门,Prevotella和Unclassified Bacteroidales是湖羊瘤胃的优势菌属。日粮中添加100%微贮棉秆可以显著降低湖羊瘤胃菌群的多样性(P0.05);显著降低Unclassified Bacteroidales和BF311的相对丰度(P0.05)。三条代谢通路甜菜素生物合成、吲哚生物碱生物合成和加压素调节水的重吸收随着微贮棉秆比例升高而显著增加(P0.05)。【结论】饲喂50%微贮棉秆在提高日增重的同时对湖羊瘤胃微生物菌群结构与功能影响较小。在生产实践中,微贮秸秆添加量应低于50%。     

溶菌酶对瘤胃体外发酵、甲烷生成及微生物菌群结构的影响

【目的】通过体外静态模拟瘤胃发酵法研究溶菌酶对瘤胃发酵、甲烷生成及微生物菌群结构的影响。【方法】采用单因素多水平试验设计,溶菌酶添加水平分别为0(L-0,对照组)、0.1 mg/100 m L(L-0.1)、1 mg/100 m L(L-1)、10 mg/100 m L(L-10)和100 mg/100 m L(L-100),定时测定产气量和甲烷产量,培养24 h后,发酵液用于发酵参数和微生物菌群数量的q PCR测定,其中L-0、L-1和L-100三个组发酵液同时进行16S r RNA基因Illumina高通量测序。【结果】与对照组相比,低剂量溶菌酶添加(L-0.1组)不影响甲烷产量、氨氮浓度、干物质消失率、有机物消失率和总挥发性脂肪酸等瘤胃发酵参数(P0.05);随着剂量提高,L-1处理组甲烷产量、氨氮浓度显著降低(P0.05),丙酸浓度显著增加(P0.05),并且干物质消失率、有机物消失率和总挥发性脂肪酸不受影响(P0.05);而较高剂量组(L-10和L-100组)虽然甲烷产量显著降低,丙酸浓度显著增加(P0.05),但干物质消失率和有机物消失率也显著降低(P0.05)。q PCR结果显示高剂量组(L-100组)总菌、原虫、甲烷菌数量与对照组相比显著降低(P0.05),而L-0.1、L-1和L-10组总菌、真菌和原虫数量与对照组相比均无显著变化(P0.05)。高通量测序主成分分析(PCA)显示对照组与溶菌酶添加组间瘤胃细菌组成的明显区分,说明添加溶菌酶显著改变了瘤胃细菌菌群结构。溶菌酶通过增加月形单胞菌和琥珀酸弧菌等丙酸生成菌的相对丰度,使更多的氢被用于生成丙酸,导致甲烷产量降低;溶菌酶可抑制普雷沃氏菌和拟杆菌属等蛋白降解菌的生长,进而减少蛋白质过度降解,降低氨氮浓度。【结论】添加适宜浓度(1 mg/100 m L)的溶菌酶可通过调控瘤胃微生态改变瘤胃发酵模式,降低瘤胃甲烷和氨的生成,短期内并不影响饲料消化。     

乳酸链球菌素对瘤胃体外发酵、甲烷生成及功能菌群数量的影响北大核心CSCD

【目的】旨在通过体外静态模拟瘤胃发酵法研究乳酸链球菌素(NI)对瘤胃发酵、甲烷生成及功能菌群数量的影响。【方法】以不添加任何添加剂处理做阴性对照(NC),以莫能菌素(MON,5μmol/L)做阳性对照,试验组NI添加水平分别为3(NI-3)、9(NI-9)和27 mg/100 m L(NI-27),每个处理4个重复,分别于培养后的0、3、6、9、12、24 h测定产气量和甲烷产量。培养24 h后,采集发酵液样品,用于发酵参数和菌群数量的测定。【结果】与NC组相比,添加NI和MON均能显著降低产气量和甲烷产量(P<0.05);添加NI对pH值、干物质消失率(DMD)和有机物消失率(OMD)无显著影响(P>0.05);NI-9处理组与NC组相比氨态氮浓度显著降低(P<0.05),而NI-3和NI-27组氨氮浓度没有显著变化(P>0.05);相比而言,MON处理组DMD、OMD和氨氮浓度与NC组相比均显著降低(P<0.05),而pH值与其他各处理组相比没有差异(P>0.05);与NC组相比,NI各处理组和MON组乙酸浓度及乙丙比均显著降低(P<0.05),丙酸浓度显著提高(P<0.05)。功能菌方面,qPCR结果显示添加NI和MON对总菌和拟杆菌门数量均无显著影响(P>0.05);与NC相比,添加NI对原虫、甲烷菌、真菌和厚壁菌门数量均无显著影响(P>0.05),而MON组原虫、甲烷菌、真菌和厚壁菌门数量显著降低(P<0.05);NI和MON处理均显著提高了硫还原菌和C.aminophilum数量(P<0.05),但C.sticklandii数量不受影响(P>0.05)。【结论】添加适宜浓度的NI可降低瘤胃甲烷与氨的生成,但并不影响饲料消化,这种发酵模式的改变可能与瘤胃功能菌群数量与多样性的变化密切相关。     

不同能量代谢率的山羊瘤胃微生物结构与组成的差异性

【背景】能量代谢率是衡量饲粮利用效率的一个重要组成部分,提高反刍动物对不同营养物质所含能量的消化代谢率,有助于提高反刍动物对能量的利用效率。【目的】通过高通量测序技术比较不同能量代谢率的山羊瘤胃微生物结构与组成的差异。【方法】以19只山羊作为试验动物,通过代谢试验和呼吸测热试验筛选出高能量代谢率表型组(HEU)和低能量代谢率表型组(LEU)山羊各5只。分别采集HEU、LEU组每只山羊瘤胃内容物,提取微生物总DNA,用细菌通用引物对细菌16S rRNA基因的高可变区进行PCR扩增,利用Illumina Mi Seq平台对扩增子进行高通量测序,并用QIIME等软件对测序序列进行生物信息学分析。【结果】拟杆菌门(44.20%±9.39%)、厚壁菌门(16.40%±5.44%)和变形菌门(11.30%±7.42%)在两组山羊瘤胃微生物中均为优势菌门,其中厚壁菌门是两组中共享的优势菌门。LEU组(6.71%±2.47%)中芽孢杆菌纲相对丰度显著高于HEU组(P0.05)。两组相对丰度最高的目均为乳酸杆菌目,LEU组(4.98%±1.88%)乳酸杆菌目相对丰度显著高于HEU组(P0.05)。在科水平,有7个科的相对丰度在组间差异性显著(P0.05)。拟杆菌科在两组中均为相对丰度最高的科,LEU组(3.64%±1.32%)拟杆菌科的相对丰度显著高于HEU组(P0.05)。在属水平,有9个属的相对丰度在组间差异性显著(P0.05)。HEU组(0.61%±0.36%)仅有普雷沃氏菌属的相对丰度显著高于LEU组(0.16%±0.07%),其他8个属的相对丰度均显著低于LEU组(P0.05)。其中瘤胃球菌属在HEU组(2.53%±0.62%)和LEU组(4.19%±1.43%)中均为相对丰度最高的属。【结论】不同能量代谢率的山羊瘤胃微生物结构与组成存在显著性差异。     

结直肠癌瘀毒内阻证与气血两虚证患者肠道菌群差异性研究CSCD

目的 探索瘀毒内阻证、气血两虚证结直肠癌患者肠道菌群结构的差异,为该类患者的治疗提供参考。方法 收集原发性结直肠癌患者的粪便标本,根据中医辨证分型分为瘀毒内阻证组(SPOS组)和气血两虚证组(QBDS组),其中SPOS组患者17例,QBDS组患者13例。使用16S rRNA基因扩增测序法鉴定2组患者肠道菌群的多样性和丰度,并分析组间物种差异。结果SPOS组患者肠道菌群Chao1指数(414.08±52.21vs803.07±294.53, P<0.001)、 Ace指数(419.84±52.83vs830.28±310.28, P<0.001)均低于QBDS组。组间差异分析显示组内差异大于组间差异(Anosim,R=0.138 7,P=0.017)。2组患者肠道菌群主要为厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidota)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteriota)和疣微菌门(Verrucomicrobiota)。LEfSe分析显示SPOS组有7个生物标志物菌群,在属水平上为栖粪杆菌属(Faecalibacterium)、普雷沃菌属(Prevotella)、瘤胃球菌属(Ruminococcus);QBDS组有10个生物标志物菌群,在种、属水平上为阿克曼菌属(Akkermansia),嗜黏蛋白阿克曼菌(Akkermansia_muciniphila),差异均具有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论 结直肠癌瘀毒内阻证、气血两虚证患者的肠道菌群多样性和丰度存在显著差异,其差异可能有助于区分临床中医证型。     

应用PCR-DGGE和Real-Time PCR分析健康与腹泻獭兔盲肠菌群

【目的】研究獭兔腹泻发生后盲肠菌群结构的变化情况,为微生态防治断奶兔腹泻提供理论基础。【方法】分别提取5只健康和腹泻獭兔盲肠内容物总DNA,应用PCR-DGGE及Real-Time PCR技术比较分析獭兔盲肠中菌群结构的差异。【结果】腹泻獭兔PCR-DGGE图谱条带丰富度、均匀度、多样性指数与健康獭兔相比差异均不显著,但聚类分析和主成分分析(PCA)能够将腹泻组和健康组区分开。Real-Time PCR检测显示,腹泻獭兔盲肠正常菌群普雷沃氏菌、梭菌类群Ⅰ数量与健康獭兔相比没有变化(P0.05);链球菌属、梭菌类群Ⅳ和ⅩⅣa、白色瘤胃球菌、溶纤维丁酸弧菌、普拉梭杆菌等有益微生物数量显著降低(P0.01),而埃希氏大肠杆菌数量却显著升高(P0.05)。【结论】獭兔腹泻发生后盲肠有益微生物数量降低,有害微生物数量升高;菌群结构有差异但不显著(P0.05),腹泻獭兔盲肠菌群结构有复杂化的趋势。     

唾液菌群特征分析对儿童龋齿复发的预测价值

目的探究唾液菌群特征对儿童龋齿复发的预测价值。方法收集2017年1月至2018年1月在中铁十七局集团有限公司中心医院诊断及治疗的龋齿患儿94例,在进行龋齿治疗后第4周搜集唾液样本,并根据12个月后的龋齿发生情况分为复发组及未复发组,对比两组微生物检测结果,并使用ROC曲线评估微生物指标对龋齿复发的预测效能。结果本研究随访结束时,龋齿复发23例(25.84%)。龋齿复发与未复发组的唾液微生物组成存在显著差异:复发组的变形链球菌(Streptococcus mutans)、内氏放线菌(Actinomyces naeslundii)、普雷沃氏菌属(Prevotella)、二氧化碳噬纤维菌属(Capnocytophaga)、普雷沃氏菌科(Prevotellaceae)、放线菌属(Actinobacillus)的相对丰度显著高于未复发组(均P<0.05),未复发组在纤毛杆菌属(Leptotrichia)、奈瑟氏菌属(Neisseria)、链球菌属(Streptococcus)的相对丰度显著高于复发组(均P<0.05)。纤毛杆菌属、内氏放线菌、普雷沃氏菌属、变形链球菌载量预测龋齿复发的AUC值分别为0.753、0.715、0.680、0.940,其中变形链球菌的AUC值显著高于其他三种菌属(均P<0.05)。结论分析唾液菌群对儿童龋齿的复发具有一定的预测价值,其中变形链球菌的预测效能较好。     

氯化镧对西门塔尔牛瘤胃发酵及尿嘌呤衍生物的影响

选用4头体重420 kg,年龄2.5岁装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的中国西门塔尔牛,采用4×4拉丁方设计,以混合精料和玉米秸秆为基础日粮,研究日粮中添加氯化镧(0、0.45、0.9和1.8 g/head/d)对瘤胃pH、NH,-N、VFA、营养物质降解及尿嘌呤衍生物浓度的影响.每头牛每天日粮添加0.9 g氯化镧后显著降低瘤胃pH和NH,-N浓度,提高了玉米秸秆干物质、有机物质、中性洗涤纤维和酸性洗涤纤维的有效降解率(P＜0.05);对豆粕干物质、有机物质和粗蛋白质降解无显著影响(P＞0.05);显著提高了瘤胃丙酸、总挥发性脂肪酸浓度和尿嘌呤衍生物的排出量(P＜0.05);乙酸/丙酸显著下降(P＜0.05). 日粮中氯化镧的适宜添加水平为每头牛每天0.9 g.     

Real-time PCR分析滴虫性阴道炎患者微生物组成的变化

目的探寻滴虫性阴道炎患者阴道微生物组成的特点,为临床诊治及减少疾病的复发提供参考依据。方法选取2016年5-6月复旦大学附属华东医院妇科门诊45岁以下确诊为滴虫性阴道炎的育龄期患者16例,以同期18例45岁以下育龄期健康女性为对照,采集患者和健康人上阴道壁1/3处的分泌物,进行常规临床分析和革兰染色,并以21种常见的阴道细菌的特异引物进行Real-time PCR检测,分析并比较这些细菌在滴虫性阴道炎患者和健康人阴道内的组成及变化。结果在18例健康人中,其中13例的阴道微生物组成以乳酸杆菌(Lactobacillus)为优势菌,3例的阴道微生物组成无明显优势菌群或者优势菌不为检测的21种常见阴道微生物,2例的阴道微生物组成以加德纳菌为优势菌;在16例滴虫性阴道炎患者中,只有2例患者的阴道微生物菌群以乳酸杆菌为优势菌,14例以厌氧菌如普雷沃属(Prevotella)、纤毛菌(Leptotrichia)和斯尼思菌(Sneathia)为优势菌。经Metastats进行组间差异分析,结果表明Lactobacillus crispatus、Leptotrichia amnionii、Eggerthella sp.和Peptostreptococcus sp.在两组之间差异有统计学意义(P≤0.05)。PCoA主成分析结果亦显示滴虫性阴道炎患者的阴道常见21种微生物组成与健康人有显著差别。结论滴虫性阴道炎患者阴道内微生物组成的多样性增加,普雷沃属、纤毛菌及斯尼思菌的明显增高可能滴虫性阴道炎的炎症发生有关,此结果对于临床治疗滴虫性阴道炎的及减少复发提供新的方向,具有一定的指导意义。     

链球菌与香菇多糖联用对PM_(2.5)暴露肺癌小鼠呼吸道菌群的影响CSCD

目的观察潜在益生菌链球菌C17、D19株与香菇多糖联合应用对PM_(2.5)暴露肺癌荷瘤小鼠呼吸道菌群多样性的影响。方法尾静脉注射A549细胞悬液构建荷瘤SCID小鼠模型,气管滴注40μL 20mg/mL的PM_(2.5)溶液,每周1次,持续4周。实验组(LS组)给予链球菌C17、D19株混合菌液喷雾给药,每周2次,同时腹腔注射3mg/kg香菇多糖。对照组(PM组)仅喷雾生理盐水。比较组(LE组)喷雾生理盐水同时给予香菇多糖。全部小鼠均持续处理4周。利用高通量测序对咽拭子样本中的菌群进行16SrDNA序列检测,进行OTU统计、物种组成分析、指示物种分析、Alpha多样性分析、Beta多样性分析。结果PM组小鼠OTU数量大于LE组、LS组。各组主要优势菌为厚壁菌门、变形菌门、放线菌门、蓝细菌门、拟杆菌门。与PM组比较,LE组(t=3.2064,P=0.0071)、LS组(t=3.4061,P=0.0098)放线菌门丰度增加显著,LE组蓝细菌门丰度减少显著(t=2.7316,P=0.0340)。属水平上,LS组与LE组各优势菌属总丰度显著高于PM组。与PM组比较,LS组小鼠呼吸道嗜气杆菌属(t=7.1686,P=0.0008)和普雷沃菌属(t=2.2702,P=0.0230)丰度显著增加,LE组嗜气杆菌属(t=2.5238,P=0.0429)、加德纳菌属(t=2.4720,P=0.0445)、奇异菌属(t=4.8123,P=0.0030)、弧菌属(t=2.4597,P=0.0210)、普雷沃菌属(t=2.6076,P=0.0319)丰度差异显著。种水平上,与PM组比较,LS组小鼠呼吸道酸性链球菌(t=2.4456,P=0.0450)、Rodentibacter_heylii(t=7.1686,P=0.0008)增加显著,LE组普雷沃菌(t=2.2751,P=0.0462)、Rodentibacter_heylii(t=2.5238,P=0.0340)增加显著。Alpha多样性分析显示,LE组与PM组间、LS组与PM组间菌群Chao指数(t=2.3867,P=0.0388;t=5.8780,P=0.0006),Ace指数(t=2.8267,P=0.0192;t=6.1316,P=0.0009)差异有统计学意义。Beta多样性分析显示,LS组与PM组间(t=2.9994,P=0.0056)、LE组与PM组间(t=4.8938,P<0.0001)OTU水平比较差异有统计学意义。结论潜在益生菌C17、D19株与香菇多糖联合应用可调节PM_(2.5)暴露肺癌小鼠呼吸道的菌群多样性。     

Unravelling the genetic diversity of ruminal bacteria belonging to the CFB phylum

Molecular biology approaches were employed to examine the genetic diversity of bacteria from the Cytophaga/Flexibacter/Bacteroides (CFB) phylum in the rumen of cattle. By this means we were able to identify cultured strains that represent some of the larger CFB clusters previously identified only by PCR amplification and sequencing. Complete 16S rDNA sequences were obtained for 16 previously isolated rumen strains, including the type strains of Prevotella ruminicola, P. bryantii, P. brevis and P. albensis to represent a wide range of diversity. Phylogenetic analysis of cultured strains revealed the existence of three clusters of ruminal CFB: (i) a cluster of Prevotella strains, which have been found only in the rumen, including the two type strains, P. brevis GA33(T) and P. ruminicola 23(T); (ii) Prevotella spp. that cluster with prevotellas from other ecological niches such as the oral cavity and which include the type strains, P. bryantii B(1)4(T) and P. albensis M384(T); (iii) two Bacteroides spp. strains clustering with B. forsythus of oral origin. In order to establish whether the cultivated isolates cover the whole range of ruminal CFB genetic diversity, 16S rRNA gene sequences were amplified and cloned from DNA extracted from the same rumen samples (one cow in Slovenia, one in Scotland and three in Japan). Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA genes confirmed the existence of two superclusters of ruminal Prevotella, one exclusively ruminal and the other including non-ruminal species. In the case of ruminal Bacteroides spp., however, phylogenetic analysis revealed the existence of three new superclusters, one of which has as yet no cultivable counterpart. Interestingly, these Bacteroides clusters were represented almost exclusively by clone libraries from the Japanese cattle and only three sequences were from the European cattle. This study agrees with previous analyses in showing that rumen Prevotella/Bacteroides strains exhibit a remarkable degree of genetic diversity and suggests that different strain groupings may differ greatly in their recovery by cultural methods. The most important conclusion, however, is that cultured strains can be identified that represent some of the larger clusters previously identified only by PCR amplification and sequencing.     

Diet-dependent shifts in the bacterial population of the rumen revealed with real-time PCR

A set of PCR primers was designed and validated for specific detection and quantification of Prevotella ruminicola, Prevotella albensis, Prevotella bryantii, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Selenomonas ruminantium-Mitsuokella multiacida, Streptococcus bovis, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Ruminobacter amylophilus, Eubacterium ruminantium, Treponema bryantii, Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens, and Anaerovibrio lipolytica. By using these primers and the real-time PCR technique, the corresponding species in the rumens of cows for which the diet was switched from hay to grain were quantitatively monitored. The dynamics of two fibrolytic bacteria, F. succinogenes and R. flavefaciens, were in agreement with those of earlier, culture-based experiments. The quantity of F. succinogenes DNA, predominant in animals on the hay diet, fell 20-fold on the third day of the switch to a grain diet and further declined on day 28, with a 57-fold reduction in DNA. The R. flavefaciens DNA concentration on day 3 declined to approximately 10% of its initial value in animals on the hay diet and remained at this level on day 28. During the transition period (day 3), the quantities of two ruminal prevotella DNAs increased considerably: that of P. ruminicola increased 7-fold and that of P. bryantii increased 263-fold. On day 28, the quantity of P. ruminicola DNA decreased 3-fold, while P. bryantii DNA was still elevated 10-fold in comparison with the level found in animals on the initial hay diet. The DNA specific for another xylanolytic bacterium, E. ruminantium, dropped 14-fold during the diet switch and was maintained at this level on day 28. The concentration of a rumen spirochete, T. bryantii, decreased less profoundly and stabilized with a sevenfold decline by day 28. The variations in A. lipolytica DNA were not statistically significant. After an initial slight increase in S. dextrinosolvens DNA on day 3, this DNA was not detected at the end of the experiment. S. bovis DNA displayed a 67-fold increase during the transition period on day 3. However, on day 28, it actually declined in comparison with the level in animals on the hay ration. The amount of S. ruminantium-M. multiacida DNA also increased eightfold following the diet switch, but stabilized with only a twofold increase on day 28. The real-time PCR technique also uncovered differential amplification of rumen bacterial templates with the set of universal bacterial primers. This observation may explain why some predominant rumen bacteria have not been detected in PCR-generated 16S ribosomal DNA libraries.     

Glutamate dehydrogenase activity profiles for type strains of ruminal Prevotella spp.

The glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activities for the type strains of Prevotella ruminicola (strain 23), Prevotella brevis (strain GA33), and Prevotella bryantii (strain B(1)4) were assessed by a combination of enzyme assays and analysis of migration patterns of GDH proteins following nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Unlike results with most other prokaryotes, but similar to results with other members of the family Bacteroidaceae, NADPH-utilizing specific activity was greatest in all species following ammonia-limited growth. Similar also to previous findings with P. bryantii, the NAD(P)H-utilizing GDH activity of P. ruminicola can be attributed to a single protein. However, P. brevis produces an additional GDH protein(s) in response to growth with peptides. These results conclusively demonstrate that all type strains of the ruminal Prevotella sp. grouping possess GDH activity.     

Effect of sodium monensin and cinnamaldehyde on the growth and phenotypic characteristics of Prevotella bryantii and Prevotella ruminicola

Two representative strains of Gram-negative rumen bacteria from the genus Prevotella were used as model organisms in order to evaluate the effect of cinnamaldehyde (the secondary metabolite found in extracts of the Cinnamomum family) vs. sodium monensin on growth, cell size and cell protein production. Prevotella bryantii B(1)4 was found to be remarkably more resistant to the action of both compounds than Prevotella ruminicola 23. The approximate IC(50) concentrations of sodium monensin influenced the increase in cell size of both strains during growth, which was much more pronounced in the case of the B(1)4 strain. A similar effect was observed in strain B(1)4 when 1.438 mmol/L cinnamaldehyde was added to the growth medium, indicating a possible interference with cell division. The action of cinnamaldehyde on P. bryantii B(1)4 was concentration-dependent, in contrast to the effect observed on P. ruminicola 23.     

Type II restriction modification systems of Prevotella bryantii TC1-1 and Prevotella ruminicola 23 strains and their effect on the efficiency of DNA introduction via electroporation

The restriction endonucleases PbrTI and Pru2I, isoschizomers of Sau3AI and HaeIII, were partially purified and characterized from anaerobic rumen bacteria Prevotella bryantii TC1-1 and Prevotella ruminicola 23, respectively. These are the first type II restriction endonucleases discovered in strains of the genus Prevotella, and they represent one of the barriers hindering gene transfer in these microorganisms. Heterologous DNA was protected against the action of the PbrTI or Pru2I by incubation in a cell-free extract of the respective strain which contained 20 mM EDTA. This led to the development of a protocol enabling successful electrotransformation of the P. bryantii TC1-1 strain with a pRH3 Bacteroides--Escherichia coli shuttle vector containing up to 7-kb long DNA inserts. Plasmid DNA isolated from the transformed strain facilitated the transfer with further increased efficiency and made possible the introduction of ligation reaction products directly to P. bryantii TC1-1 without passing them first through E. coli.     

Dominance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prevotella</Emphasis> and low abundance of classical ruminal bacterial species in the bovine rumen revealed by relative quantification real-time PCR

Relative quantification real-time PCR was used to quantify several bacterial species in ruminal samples from two lactating cows, each sampled 3 h after feeding on two successive days. Abundance of each target taxon was calculated as a fraction of the total 16S rRNA gene copies in the samples, using taxon-specific and eubacterial domain-level primers. Bacterial populations showed a clear predominance of members of the genus Prevotella, which comprised 42% to 60% of the bacterial rRNA gene copies in the samples. However, only 2% to 4% of the bacterial rRNA gene copies were represented by the classical ruminal Prevotella species Prevotella bryantii, Prevotella ruminicola and Prevotella brevis. The proportion of rRNA gene copies attributable to Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Selenomonas ruminantium and Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens were each generally in the 0.5% to 1% range. Proportions for Ruminobacter amylophilus and Eubacterium ruminantium were lower (0.1% to 0.2%), while Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Streptococcus bovis, Ruminococcus albus and Megasphaera elsdenii were even less abundant, each comprising <0.03% of the bacterial rRNA gene copies. The data suggest that the aggregate abundance of the most intensively studied ruminal bacterial species is relatively low and that a large fraction of the uncultured population represents a single bacterial genus.     

Effect of phenotypic residual feed intake and dietary forage content on the rumen microbial community of beef cattle

Feed-efficient animals have lower production costs and reduced environmental impact. Given that rumen microbial fermentation plays a pivotal role in host nutrition, the premise that rumen microbiota may contribute to host feed efficiency is gaining momentum. Since diet is a major factor in determining rumen community structure and fermentation patterns, we investigated the effect of divergence in phenotypic residual feed intake (RFI) on ruminal community structure of beef cattle across two contrasting diets. PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and quantitative PCR (qPCR) were performed to profile the rumen bacterial population and to quantify the ruminal populations of Entodinium spp., protozoa, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Ruminococcus albus, Prevotella brevis, the genus Prevotella, and fungi in 14 low (efficient)- and 14 high (inefficient)-RFI animals offered a low-energy, high-forage diet, followed by a high-energy, low-forage diet. Canonical correspondence and Spearman correlation analyses were used to investigate associations between physiological variables and rumen microbial structure and specific microbial populations, respectively. The effect of RFI on bacterial profiles was influenced by diet, with the association between RFI group and PCR-DGGE profiles stronger for the higher forage diet. qPCR showed that Prevotella abundance was higher (P < 0.0001) in inefficient animals. A higher (P < 0.0001) abundance of Entodinium and Prevotella spp. and a lower (P < 0.0001) abundance of Fibrobacter succinogenes were observed when animals were offered the low-forage diet. Thus, differences in the ruminal microflora may contribute to host feed efficiency, although this effect may also be modulated by the diet offered.     

Design and use of 16S ribosomal DNA-directed primers in competitive PCRs to enumerate proteolytic bacteria in the rumen

Competitive Polymerase Chain Reaction primers were designed for Streptococcus, B. fibrisolvens, P. bryantii, Eubacterium sp., Prevotella, and a universal primer for the eubacteria. DNA was extracted from rumen contents collected from eight dairy cows fed four diets: adequate nitrogen, adequate nitrogen plus carbohydrate, low nitrogen, and low nitrogen plus carbohydrate. B. fibrisolvens was significantly higher on the adequate nitrogen plus carbohydrate and the low nitrogen plus carbohydrate diets compared with the other diets, while P. bryantii was significantly higher on the low nitrogen plus carbohydrate diet compared with the adequate nitrogen diet. The population of Eubacterium sp. was significantly lower on both the adequate nitrogen plus carbohydrate and low nitrogen plus carbohydrate diets. Streptococcus populations were significantly lower on the low nitrogen plus carbohydrate diet compared with all three other diets, whereas there were no significant differences in populations of Prevotella or total eubacteria on any of the diets.     

Characterization of several bovine rumen bacteria isolated with a xylan medium

Dehority, B. A. (Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster). Characterization of several bovine rumen bacteria isolated with a xylan medium. J. Bacteriol. 91:1724-1729. 1966.-Studies were conducted to characterize eight strains of bacteria isolated from bovine rumen contents, by use of a medium containing xylan as the only added carbohydrate source. Based on morphology, biochemical reactions, nutritional requirements, and fermentation products, five of the eight strains were identified as Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens. Many properties of the remaining three strains resembled Bacteroides ruminicola; however, propionic acid was consistently found as a fermentation product. When the type strains for B. ruminicola subsp. ruminicola and B. ruminicola subsp. brevis were compared with the present isolates, it was found that propionic acid was a normal fermentation product for the type strain B. ruminicola subsp. ruminicola when grown in a 40% rumen fluid-0.5% glucose broth. Production of propionic acid was markedly reduced for all strains when grown in a 20% rumen fluid-1% glucose broth. The three remaining strains were thus placed in the species B. ruminicola, and further classified into the subspecies ruminicola (one strain) and brevis (two strains) on the basis of their requirement for hemin. Although the type strain of B. ruminicola subsp. brevis did not produce propionic acid, both of the present isolates classified as this subspecies produced substantial amounts. One strain of B. ruminicola subsp. brevis had an absolute requirement for volatile fatty acids. Either isobutyric or dl-2-methylbutyric acid would satisfy this requirement, whereas isovaleric acid was ineffective. It is of interest that xylan-fermenting bacteria isolated from 10(-7) and 10(-8) dilutions of rumen contents by use of a xylan medium are similar to the xylan fermenters isolated at the same dilutions with a nonselective medium.     

Influence of Dipeptidyl Peptidase Inhibitors on Growth,Peptidase Activity,and Ammonia Production by Ruminal Microorganisms

The aim was to investigate known and potential new inhibitiors of dipeptidyl peptidases (DPP) for their effects on ruminal microorganisms. Gly-Phe diazomethylketone (GPD), Ala-Ala chloromethylketone (AAC), benserazide (DL-serine 2-(2,3,4- trihydroxybenzyl) hydrazide), and diprotin A (Ile-Pro-Ile) inhibited DPP activities of Prevotella albensis, P. ruminicola, P. bryantii, P. brevis, and mixed ruminal microorganisms, though incompletely and, except for diprotin A, without absolute specificity for any of the peptidases. Leucine aminopeptidase activity of Streptococcus bovis was also inhibited by GPD and benserazide. The inhibitors had no effect on the growth of the bacteria, except for GPD, which inhibited growth of P. albensis when only peptides were available for growth. Benserazide had some inhibitory effects on the growth of Megasphaera elsdenii and Prevotella spp., even in the absence of peptides. The predatory activity of ciliate protozoa on bacteria was unaffected by DPP inhibitors. Ammonia production from casein by mixed ruminal microorganisms was inhibited significantly (P < 0.05) by AAC (29% inhibition) and benserazide (33%). It was concluded that DPP inhibitors can influence the rate of NH₃ production in the rumen and may form the basis for developing protein-sparing feed additives for ruminants.