Increased cellulose hydrolysis by Bacteroides cellulosolvens in a simplified synthetic medium

The nutrient requirements of the cellulolytic anaerobe Bacteroides cellulosolvens were determined, and a new synthetic medium was formulated for its growth. B. cellulosolvens showed optimum cellobiose consumption and product formation in medium containing 40 mM ammonia nitrogen, 3 mM phosphate, 1 mM sulfide, 100 μM magnesium and 45 μM iron. This microbe had an essential-vitamin requirement for biotin; while zinc, manganese and copper slightly stimulated cellobiose degradation. In the new synthetic medium B. cellulosolvens was able to degrade 30% more cellulose.