Short project description

Ruminant animals rely on the symbiotic relationship with the microbes in their rumens to use feed that is high in otherwise indigestible fibers (e.g. grasses). Hydrogen is a normal end-product of microbial fermentation of feed within the rumen.  This hydrogen is then converted into methane, by the ruminal methanogens resulting in unwanted greenhouse gas production. The removal of hydrogen is beneficial for fermentation in the rumen as high hydrogen concentrations can inhibit some rumen bacteria.

Hydrogenotrophic bacteria are bacteria that consume hydrogen as part of their metabolism. They are phylogenetically diverse but have functional similarities.  These bacteria are normally not competitive with methanogens (hydrogenotrophic archaea) in the rumen, but they can take over and serve as alternative hydrogen sinks if the methanogen population is suppressed or lacking. The overall aim of this project is to use hydrogenotrophic bacteria to redirect hydrogen in the rumen into alternative metabolic pathways and produce biomass, which can be absorbed and utilized by the cow.

In this project, we will be examining potential hydrogenotrophic bacteria isolated from the rumen. A culture collection with more than 170 potential hydrogenotrophic isolates has been made and 20 newly isolated bacteria have been tested in pure culture and an in vitro rumen simulation system. The genomes of these characterized strains will be sequenced and analyzed.