F. succinogenes

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus F. succinogenes

Classification (1)

Higher order taxa

cellular organisms; Bacteria; Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria group; Fibrobacteres; Fibrobacteres (class); Fibrobacterales; Fibrobacteraceae; Fibrobacter

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

Fibrobacter succinogenes

Description and significance

Fibrobacter succinogenes has been considered as one of the most actively fibrolytic bacteria in the rumen (Forsberg et al. 1997), as this species possesses a varity of fibrolytic enzymes (Malburg & Forsberg 1993; Bera et al. 1999) and is detected in the rumen at high density (Michalet-Doreau et al. 2001; Koike et al. 2003). All previous isolates of this species, comprising 10 strains, use limited soluble substrates such as glucose or short glucose polymer and produce similar fermentation metabolites. Meanwhile, these 10 isolates of F. succinegenes are divided into four different phylogenetic groups (Amann et al. 1992), based on comparative sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene (16S rDNA). A few differences in phenotypic characters among these four groups have been reported: (i) group 1 is differentiated from the other groups by its pleomorphic coccoid morphology and poor ability to digest cellulose in agar medium (Montgomery et al. 1988); (ii) group 3 is distinguishable from group 2 by production of yellow pigment and requirement for vitamin B12; (iii) groups 2 and 4 cannot be distinguished by any phenotypic characters (Amann et al. 1992).

Because F. succinogenes is better characterized in phenotypic variation depending on its phylogenetic grouping (Shinkai et al. 2004), attention should now be paid to the contribution of each group to plant fiber digestion in the rumen. The contribution might be indirectly evaluated by ecological information of each group of E. succinogenes, for example, bacterial mass and localization in the rumen (2).

Genome structure

Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence? Does it have any plasmids? Are they important to the organism's lifestyle?

Cell structure and metabolism

Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

Ecology

Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.

Pathology

How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

Application to Biotechnology

Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?

Current Research

Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required

References

(1) NCBI: Fibrobacter succinogenes, Accessed Aug 22, 2007, <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=833&lvl=3&lin=f&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock> (2) Forsberg CW, Cheng KJ, White BA. 1997. Polysaccharide degradation in the rumen and large intestine. In: Mackie RI. White BA (eds), Gastrointestinal Microbiology, pp. 319-379. Chapman and Hall, New York. (3) Koike S, Pan J, Suzuki T, Takano T, Oshima C, Kobayashi Y, Tanaka K. 2004. Ruminal distribution of the cellulolytic bacterium Fibrobacter succinogenes in relation to its phylogenetic grouping. Animal Science Journal, 75, pp. 417-422.

Edited by Woo Cheal Cho, student of Rachel Larsen