Methanogenic bacteria, which are common inhabitants of the animal digestive tract, contain the fluorescent compound F420 (coenzyme 420), a 7,8-didemethyl-8-hydroxy-5-deazariboflavin chromophore. F420 was characterized as an initial step in determining if this compound would be useful as a fluorescent marker for the detection of fecal and ingesta contamination. Using a single anion exchange chro...

Two morphologically distinct, H2- and CO2-utilizing methanogens were isolated from gut homogenates of the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes-flavipes (Kollar) (Rhinotermitidae). Strain RFM-1 was a short straight rod (0.4 by 1.2 micron), whereas strain RFM-2 was a slightly curved rod (0.34 by 1.6 microns) that possessed polar fibers. Their morphology, gram-positive staining reaction, resistanc...

This study aimed to analyze the population dynamics of methanogenic archaea in co-digestion systems operated under different concentrations industrial waste such as ricotta whey and brewery sludge association with bovine manure. It was believed that these residues from food industry combined manure can contribute improve production biogas. To identify archaea, DNA extractions sequencing 16s rRN...

This study evaluated the breath CH4 excretion and concentration of M. smithii in intestinal microbiota of schoolchildren from 2 slums. One hundred and eleven children from a slum near a sanitary landfill, 35 children of a slum located away from the sanitary landfill, and 32 children from a high socioeconomic level school were included in the study. Real-time PCR was performed to quantify the M....

The rumen microbiome represents a complex microbial genetic web where bacteria, anaerobic rumen fungi (ARF), protozoa and archaea work in harmony contributing to the health and productivity of ruminants. We hypothesized that the rumen microbiome shifts as the dairy cow advances in lactations and these microbial changes may contribute to differences in productivity between primiparous (first lac...

The objective of this study was to determine whether statistically valid correlations could be shown between enterococcal counts of samples from creek and coastal sites and the presence of two molecular, library-independent markers that specify human and/or sewage pollution. Four hundred ninety samples were collected between August 2007 and April 2009 to determine enterococcal counts and the pr...

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) systems with mixed cultures often generate a variety of gaseous and soluble chemicals. Methane is the primary end product in mixed-culture MES because it is the thermodynamically most favorable reduction product of CO2. Here, we show that the peptaibol alamethicin selectively suppressed the growth of methanogens in mixed-culture MES systems, resulting in a shift...

The aim of this study was to determine the microbial community composition in the rumen of yaks under different feeding regimes. Microbial communities were assessed by sequencing bacterial and archaeal 16S ribosomal RNA gene fragments obtained from yaks (Bos grunniens) from Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China. Samples were obtained from 14 animals allocated to either pasture grazing (Graze), a grazi...