Abstract
A combination of Sanger and 454 sequences of small subunit rRNA loci were used to interrogate microbial diversity in the bovine rumen of 12 cows consuming a forage diet. Observed bacterial species richness, based on the V1–V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene, was between 1,903 to 2,432 species-level operational taxonomic units (OTUs) when 5,520 reads were sampled per animal. Eighty percent of species-level OTUs were dominated by members of the order Clostridiales, Bacteroidales, Erysipelotrichales and unclassified TM7. Abundance of Prevotella species varied widely among the 12 animals. Archaeal species richness, also based on 16S rRNA, was between 8 and 13 OTUs, representing 5 genera. The majority of archaeal OTUs (84%) found in this study were previously observed in public databases with only two new OTUs discovered. Observed rumen fungal species richness, based on the 18S rRNA gene, was between 21 and 40 OTUs with 98.4–99.9% of OTUs represented by more than one read, using Good’s coverage. Examination of the fungal community identified numerous novel groups. Prevotella and Tannerella were overrepresented in the liquid fraction of the rumen while Butyrivibrio and Blautia were significantly overrepresented in the solid fraction of the rumen. No statistical difference was observed between the liquid and solid fractions in biodiversity of archaea and fungi. The survey of microbial communities and analysis of cross-domain correlations suggested there is a far greater extent of microbial diversity in the bovine rumen than previously appreciated, and that next generation sequencing technologies promise to reveal novel species, interactions and pathways that can be studied further in order to better understand how rumen microbial community structure and function affects ruminant feed efficiency, biofuel production, and environmental impact.
Highlights
The bovine rumen harbors a diverse population of microorganisms that converts ingested plant biomass to protein, short chain volatile fatty acids, and gases (e.g., CO2, NH3, and CH4) via fermentation
Studying the microbial populations associated with the bovine gastrointestinal tract (GIT) holds vast potential for answering questions associated with improving animal production [1] and increasing the efficiency of animal feed [2,3]
Integration of prokaryotic and fungal data sets highlighted the cross-domain correlations among the abundances of rumen inhabitants
Summary
The bovine rumen harbors a diverse population of microorganisms that converts ingested plant biomass to protein, short chain volatile fatty acids, and gases (e.g., CO2, NH3, and CH4) via fermentation. Studying the microbial populations associated with the bovine gastrointestinal tract (GIT) holds vast potential for answering questions associated with improving animal production [1] and increasing the efficiency of animal feed [2,3]. It stands to foster an understanding of the impact of the host on GIT bacterial populations [4]. The bovine rumen microbiome is estimated to contain more than 1010 bacteria, 109 phage, 108 protozoa, 107 archaea, and 103 fungal spores per ml [6,7] Both 18S and 16S small subunit (SSU)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
