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Characterization of some anaerobic bacteria from the liquid phase of a mesophilic anaerobic digester fed with a prefermented cheese whey substrate

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Abstract

Bacterial counts on the contents of an anaerobic fixed-bed digester receiving a whey substrate were conducted using the modified roll tube technique. Average anaerobic counts after 48 hours incubation on lactate containing media were 3.12 × 109 and 3.7 × 109 ml−1, respectively. These counts were between 140 and 190 times higher than aerobic counts on the same media. Seventy-four strains from both media were isolated and characterized, and the relationship between the organisms was calculated according to the similarity coefficient of Sokal and Michener [20]. The organisms were clustered using the unweighted pair group method and the results were presented in the form of a simplified dendrogram. The isolates clustered in three major groups (A, B, and C) at a similarity level of 76%. A small diffuse group of five organisms was also found. The organisms in two (A and B) of the major clusters were obligate anaerobes. Cluster A represented 34% of the isolates, cluster B represented 50%, and the facultative streptococci in cluster C, 11%. The isolates in clusters A and B could only tentatively be identified as members of the generaBacteroides andPeptostreptococcus, respectively. The isolates could not be positively identified.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dairy Science, University of the Orange Free State, P.O. Box 339, 9300, Bloemfontein, South Africa

    J. De Haast

  2. Department of Microbiology, University of the Orange Free State, P.O. Box 339, 9300, Bloemfontein, South Africa

    T. J. Britz

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  1. J. De Haast
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  2. T. J. Britz
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De Haast, J., Britz, T.J. Characterization of some anaerobic bacteria from the liquid phase of a mesophilic anaerobic digester fed with a prefermented cheese whey substrate. Microb Ecol 14, 167–177 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02013021

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