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Relation between phylogenetic position, lipid metabolism and butyrate production by different Butyrivibrio-like bacteria from the rumen

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Abstract

The Butyrivibrio group comprises Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and related Gram-positive bacteria isolated mainly from the rumen of cattle and sheep. The aim of this study was to investigate phenotypic characteristics that discriminate between different phylotypes. The phylogenetic position, derived from 16S rDNA sequence data, of 45 isolates from different species and different countries was compared with their fermentation products, mechanism of butyrate formation, lipid metabolism and sensitivity to growth inhibition by linoleic acid (LA). Three clear sub-groups were evident, both phylogenetically and metabolically. Group VA1 typified most Butyrivibrio and Pseudobutyrivibrio isolates, while Groups VA2 and SA comprised Butyrivibrio hungatei and Clostridium proteoclasticum, respectively. All produced butyrate but strains of group VA1 had a butyrate kinase activity <40 U (mg protein)−1, while strains in groups VA2 and SA all exhibited activities >600 U (mg protein)−1. The butyrate kinase gene was present in all VA2 and SA bacteria tested but not in strains of group VA1, all of which were positive for the butyryl-CoA CoA-transferase gene. None of the bacteria tested possessed both genes. Lipase activity, measured by tributyrin hydrolysis, was high in group VA2 and SA strains and low in Group VA1 strains. Only the SA group formed stearic acid from LA. Linoleate isomerase activity, on the other hand, did not correspond with phylogenetic position. Group VA1 bacteria all grew in the presence of 200 μg LA ml−1, while members of Groups VA2 and SA were inhibited by lower concentrations, some as low as 5 μg ml−1. This information provides strong links between phenotypic and phylogenetic properties of this group of clostridial cluster XIVa Gram-positive bacteria.

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Fig. 1

Abbreviations

CLA:

conjugated linoleic acid

LA:

linoleic acid

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Acknowledgements

The Rowett Research Institute receives most of its funding from the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department. We thank David Brown and Maureen Annand for their technical help and expertise. L.C.C. received a Wellcome Travelling Fellowship. I.K. visited the Rowett thanks to the Marie Curie Training Site, ‘Anaerobe’. P.E.V. received an OECD fellowship. D.P. was funded by the EC Framework 6 Integrated Project, ‘LIPGENE’ (FOOD-CT-2003–505944). The study was partly supported by The Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (Project No. 525/04/0573).

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Author notes

  1. Lal C. Chaudhary

    Present address: Centre of Advanced Studies in Animal Nutrition, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243 122, India

  2. Nicola D. Walker

    Present address: Unité de Microbiologie, INRA de Clermont-Ferrand-Theix, 63122, St-Genès Champanelle, France

  3. Ingrid Koppova & Jan Kopečný

    Present address: Institute of Animal Physiology & Genetics, Videnska 1083, 142 20 , Prague 4, Krc, Czech Republic

  4. Neil R. McEwan

    Present address: Institute of Rural Science, University of Wales, Llanbadarn Campus, Aberystwyth, SY23 3AL, UK

  5. Philip E. Vercoe

    Present address: Animal Science Group, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB21 9SB, UK

    Delphine Paillard, Nest McKain, Lal C. Chaudhary, Nicola D. Walker, Florian Pizette, Neil R. McEwan, Petra Louis & R. John Wallace

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  1. Delphine Paillard
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Correspondence to R. John Wallace.

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Paillard, D., McKain, N., Chaudhary, L.C. et al. Relation between phylogenetic position, lipid metabolism and butyrate production by different Butyrivibrio-like bacteria from the rumen. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 91, 417–422 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-006-9121-7

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