ARS | Publication request: THE SWINE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT AND STORED MANURE: RICH ECOSYSTEMS FOR ISOLATION OF NOVEL BACTERIA

Submitted to: Microbial Ecology Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 25, 2006
Publication Date: August 25, 2006
Citation: Whitehead, T.R., Lawson, P.A., Cotta, M.A. 2006. The swine gastrointestinal tract and stored manure: rich ecosystems for isolation of novel bacteria [abstract]. International Microbial Ecology. p. A123.

Technical Abstract: Storage of swine manure is associated with the microbiological production of a variety of odorous compounds, including ammonia, organic acids and alcohols, and sulfides. These compounds can contribute to health problems for swine facility workers and animals. In addition, local human populations may also be affected by these odors as well as toxic waste products entering groundwater systems. Determining the microbial populations in swine feces and stored manure that may be responsible for producing the aforementioned compounds is a first step in developing strategies to manage/reduce the numbers of these problematic microorganisms. Sequencing of 16S rDNA gene clones derived from culture-independent studies as well as 16S rRNA genes amplified from pure cultures resulting from culture dependent investigations was used by our laboratories to identify the bacterial populations. Both ecosystems were found to contain primarily low (% G+C), Gram positive anaerobic bacteria and have proven to be rich reservoirs of previously unidentified bacteria. Using these techniques, bacterial isolates have been recovered and phylogenetically placed in a number of clostridial rRNA gene clusters as well as the Bacteroidaceae. Information obtained during this project has enabled us to describe a number of isolates to novel taxa at the level of both species and genera.