Symbiotic chitin degradation by a novel anaerobic thermophilic bacterium Hydrogenispora sp. UUS1-1 and the bacterium Tepidanaerobacter sp. GT38

Chitin is the second most abundant organic compound in nature. Although mesophilic bacteria degrade insoluble chitin, there a paucity of data describing degradation chitin by anaerobic thermophilic bacteria. In this report, we screened cow manure compost for new systems, and identified chitinolytic bacterial community (CBC) that showed high activity under conditions, i.e., 1% (w/v) powder degraded completely within 7 days at 60 °C. Metagenomic analysis revealed CBC was dominated two genera from Hydrogenispora, an uncultured taxonomic group, Tepidanaerobacter. Hydrogenispora were early-to-mid stages culturing with whereas population Tepidanaerobacter increased during later culturing. Strains UUS1-1 GT38, which isolated as pure cultures using roll-tube method colloidal N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, glucose carbon sources, found to be closely related H. ethanolica T. acetatoxydans, respectively. Strain UUS1−1 readily first bacterium reported, strain GT38 no activity. Based on phylogenetic analysis, should classified novel species. Zymogram produces least chitinases molecular weights 150 40 kDa. A coculture crystalline faster lower accumulation lactate compared alone, indicating strains maintained symbiotic association through assimilation acids consumed end-products reduce end-product inhibition enhance chitin.