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Microbial composition and characterization of prevalent methanogens and acetogens isolated from syntrophic methanogenic granules

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Abstract

The microbial species composition of methanogenic granules developed on an acetate-propionate-butyrate mixture was characterized. The granules contained high numbers of adhesive methanogens (1012/g dry weight) and butyrate-, isobutyrate-, and propionate-degrading syntrophic acetogens (1011/g dry weight), but low numbers of hydrolytic-fermentative bacteria (109/g dry weight). Prevalent methanogens in the granules included: Methanobacterium formicicum strain T1N and RF, Methanosarcina mazei strain T18, Methanospirillum hungatei strain BD, and a non-filamentous, bamboo-shaped rod species, Methanothrix/Methanosaeta-like strain M7. Prevalent syntrophic acetogens included: a butyrate-degrading Syntrophospora bryantii-like strain BH, a butyrate-isobutyrate degrading non-spore-forming rod, strain IB, a propionate-degrading sporeforming oval-shaped species, strain PT, and a propionate-degrading none-spore-forming sulfate-reducing rod species, strain PW, which was able to grow syntrophically with an H2-utilizing methanogen. Sulfate-reducing bacteria did not play a significant role in the metabolism of H2, formate, acetate and butyrate but they were involved in propionate degradation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Michigan Biotechnology Institute, P. O. Box 27609, 48909, Lansing, MI, USA

    Wei-Min Wu, Mahendra K. Jain, Jurgen H. Thiele & J. Gregory Zeikus

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, 48824, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Wei-Min Wu

  3. Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, 48824, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Mahendra K. Jain

  4. Department of Biochemistry, Michigan State University, 48824, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Wei-Min Wu, Jurgen H. Thiele & J. Gregory Zeikus

  5. Department of Microbiology and Public Health, Michigan State University, 48824, East Lansing, MI, USA

    J. Gregory Zeikus

  6. Wadsworth Center for Laboratories and Research, New York State Department of Health, and School of Public Health, State University of New York, 12201-0509, NY, USA

    E. Conway de Macario

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  1. Wei-Min Wu
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  2. Mahendra K. Jain
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  3. E. Conway de Macario
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Correspondence to: M. K. Jain

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Wu, WM., Jain, M.K., de Macario, E.C. et al. Microbial composition and characterization of prevalent methanogens and acetogens isolated from syntrophic methanogenic granules. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 38, 282–290 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00174484

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00174484

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