title: Isolation and characterization of an anaerobic ruminal bacterium capable of degrading hydrolyzable tannins.
abstract: An anaerobic diplococcoid bacterium able to degrade hydrolyzable tannins was isolated from the ruminal fluid of a goat fed desmodium (Desmodium ovalifolium), a tropical legume which contains levels as high as 17% condensed tannins. This strain grew under anaerobic conditions in the presence of up to 30 g of tannic acid per liter and tolerated a range of phenolic monomers, including gallic, ferulic, and p-coumaric acids. The predominant fermentation product from tannic acid breakdown was pyrogallol, as detected by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Tannic acid degradation was dependent on the presence of a sugar such as glucose, fructose, arabinose, sucrose, galactose, cellobiose, or soluble starch as an added carbon and energy source. The strain also demonstrated resistance to condensed tannins up to a level of 4 g/liter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Pell
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zinder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D006041:Goats; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D012417:Rumen / Q000382:microbiology*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000378:metabolism; D013634:Tannins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013634:Tannins