Symbiotic relationship of Bacteroides cellulosolvens and Clostridium saccharolyticum in cellulose fermentation

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5695715

Murray, W D

In coculture, Bacteroides cellulosolvens and Clostridium saccharolyticum fermented 33% more cellulose than did B. cellulosolvens alone. Also, cellulose digestion continued at a maximum rate 48 h longer in coculture. B. cellulosolvens hydrolyzes cellulose and supplies C. saccharolyticum with sugars and a growth factor replaceable by yeast extract. Alone, B. cellulosovens exhibited an early cessation of growth which was not due to nutrient depletion, low pH, or toxic accumulation of acetic acid, ethanol, lactic acid, H/sub 2/, CO/sub 2/, cellobiose, glucose, or xylose. However, a 1-h incubation of B. cellulosolvens spent-culture medium with C. saacharolyticum cells starved for growth factor allowed a resumption of B. cellulosolvens growth. The symbiotic relationship of this naturally occurring coculture is one of mutualism, in which the cellulolytic microbe supplies the saccharolytic microbe with nutrients, and in turn the saccharolytic microbe removes a secondary metabolite toxic to the primary microbe.

• Research Organization: National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
• OSTI ID: 5695715
• Journal Information: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Vol. 51:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BACTERIA
GROWTH
SYMBIOSIS
CELLULOSE
FERMENTATION
ETHANOL
YIELDS
CLOSTRIDIUM
NUTRIENTS
ALCOHOLS
BIOCONVERSION
CARBOHYDRATES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLYSACCHARIDES
SACCHARIDES
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550700 - Microbiology