Summary
The fermentation of gelatin by different associations of bacteria, including Thermobacteroides proteolyticus, Methanobacterium sp. and Methanosarcina MP was studied. Experimental vessels were incubated at 55°C. T. proteolyticus growing axenically produced acetate, isovalerate, H2 and CO2. Traces of propionate and isobutyrate were detected. Cocultures of T. proteolyticus and Methanobacterium sp. showed an increase in propionate and isobutyrate production. The Thermobacteroides-Methanosarcina association had no effect on metabolism of T. proteolyticus, and acetate was not used.
In triculture, growth of Methanosarcina MP occurred on acetate in coculture with T. proteolyticus and Methanobacterium sp. Utilization of H2 by Methanobacterium sp. in the triculture lowered the H2 concentration sufficiently to permit acetate utilization by Methanosarcina. Maximum methane production was obtained with the triculture system.
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Ollivier, B., Smiti, N., Mah, R.A. et al. Thermophilic methanogenesis from gelatin by a mixed defined bacterial culture. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 24, 79–83 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00266290
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00266290