• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1694-1698
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to identify biohydrogenation pathways for linoleic, linolenic, oleic and stearic acids by Orpinomyces species of rumen fungus during in vitro culture. Biohydrogenation of linoleic acid produced conjugated linoleic acid (cis-9, trans-11 C18:2), which was then converted to vaccenic acid (trans-11 C18:1) as the end product of biohydrogenation. Biohydrogenation of linolenic acid produced cis-9, trans-11, cis-15 C18:3 and trans-11, cis-15 C18:2 as intermediates and vaccenic acid as the end product of biohydrogenation. Oleic acid and stearic acid were not converted to any other fatty acid. It is concluded that pathways for biohydrogenation of linoleic and linolenic acids by Orpinomyces are the same as those for group A rumen bacteria.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1250-1260
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• 2010

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi. These toxins pose serious health concerns to animals as well as human beings. Biodegradation of these mycotoxins has been considered as one of the best strategies to decontaminate food and feedstuffs. Biodegradation employs the application of microbes or enzymes to contaminated food and feedstuffs. Ruminants are considered to be resistant to the adverse effects of mycotoxins presumably due to the biodegrading ability of rumen microbes compared to mono-gastric animals. Therefore, rumen microbial source or microbial enzyme could be a great asset in biological detoxification of mycotoxins. Isolation and characterization of pure culture of rumen microorganisms or isolation and cloning of genes encoding mycotoxin-degrading potential would prove to have overall beneficial impact in the food and feed industry.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.652-663
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• 2023

The rumen fluids contain a wide range of bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses. The various ruminal microorganisms in the rumen provide nutrients by fermenting the forage they eat. During metabolic processes, microorganisms present in the rumen release diverse vesicles during the fermentation process. Therefore, in this study, we confirmed the function of rumen extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their interaction with the host. We confirmed the structure of the rumen EVs by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and the size of the particles using nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Rumen EVs range in size from 100 nm to 400 nm and are composed of microvesicles, microparticles, and ectosomes. Using the Caenorhabditis elegans smart animal model, we verified the interaction between the host and rumen EVs. Exposure of C. elegans to rumen EVs did not significantly enhance longevity, whereas exposure to the pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus significantly increased lifespan. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis showed gene expression alterations in C. elegans exposed to rumen EVs, with significant changes in the metabolic pathway, fatty acid degradation, and biosynthesis of cofactors. Our study describes the effect of rumen EV interactions with the host and provides novel insights for discovering biotherapeutic agents in the animal industry.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.2_spc
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• pp.337-345
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• 2024

Ruminants possess a specialized four-compartment forestomach, consisting of the reticulum, rumen, omasum, and abomasum. The rumen, the primary fermentative chamber, harbours a dynamic ecosystem comprising bacteria, protozoa, fungi, archaea, and bacteriophages. These microorganisms engage in diverse ecological interactions within the rumen microbiome, primarily benefiting the host animal by deriving energy from plant material breakdown. These interactions encompass symbiosis, such as mutualism and commensalism, as well as parasitism, predation, and competition. These ecological interactions are dependent on many factors, including the production of diverse molecules, such as those involved in quorum sensing (QS). QS is a density-dependent signalling mechanism involving the release of autoinducer (AIs) compounds, when cell density increases AIs bind to receptors causing the altered expression of certain genes. These AIs are classified as mainly being N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL; commonly used by Gram-negative bacteria) or autoinducer-2 based systems (AI-2; used by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria); although other less common AI systems exist. Most of our understanding of QS at a gene-level comes from pure culture in vitro studies using bacterial pathogens, with much being unknown on a commensal bacterial and ecosystem level, especially in the context of the rumen microbiome. A small number of studies have explored QS in the rumen using 'omic' technologies, revealing a prevalence of AI-2 QS systems among rumen bacteria. Nevertheless, the implications of these signalling systems on gene regulation, rumen ecology, and ruminant characteristics are largely uncharted territory. Metatranscriptome data tracking the colonization of perennial ryegrass by rumen microbes suggest that these chemicals may influence transitions in bacterial diversity during colonization. The likelihood of undiscovered chemicals within the rumen microbial arsenal is high, with the identified chemicals representing only the tip of the iceberg. A comprehensive grasp of rumen microbial chemical signalling is crucial for addressing the challenges of food security and climate targets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1555-1565
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• 2009

Anaerobic rumen fungi have been regarded as good genetic resources for enzyme production which might be useful for feed supplements, bio-energy production, bio-remediation and other industrial purposes. In this study, an expressed sequence tag (EST) library of the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis was constructed and functional genes from the EST library were analyzed to elucidate carbohydrate metabolism of anaerobic fungi. From 10,080 acquired clones, 9,569 clones with average size of 628 bp were selected for analysis. After the assembling process, 1,410 contigs were assembled and 1,369 sequences remained as singletons. 1,192 sequences were matched with proteins in the public data base with known function and 693 of them were matched with proteins isolated from fungi. One hundred and fifty four sequences were classified as genes related with biological process and 328 sequences were classified as genes related with cellular components. Most of the enzymes in the pathway of glucose metabolism were successfully isolated via construction of 10,080 ESTs. Four kinds of hemi-cellulase were isolated such as mannanase, xylose isomerase, xylan esterase, and xylanase. Five $\beta$-glucosidases with at least three different conserved domain structures were isolated. Ten cellulases with at least five different conserved domain structures were isolated. This is the first solid data supporting the expression of a multiple enzyme system in the fungus N. frontalis for polysaccharide hydrolysis.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.100-105
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to confirm biohydrogenation of linoleic acid and stearic acid production by mixed men fungi and bacteria. In mixed fungal biohydrogenation study, when linoleic acid solution was added to fungal culture (after 24 hr pre-incubation), all linoleic acids were converted to trans-11 vaccenic acid via cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid production within 24 hr period of incubation. All linoleic acid solution was hydrogenated to trans-11 vaccenic acid within 24 hr incubation and this was continued until the end of incubation (48 hr). Both treatments (added linoleic acid solution or the same amount of solution without containing linoleic acid into fungal cultures) produced the similar amount of stearic acid. In contrast, 100% of linoleic acid solution was hydrogenated to stearic acid in mixed bacterial culture. It is concluded that the end product of mixed fungal biohydrogenation of linoleic acid is trans-11 vaccenic acid whereas mixed bacteria produced stearic acid as an end product of their biohydrogenation.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1019-1030
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• 2003

The study was conducted to isolate and identify highly fibrolytic anaerobic fungi from the guts of a Hanwoo steer and a Korean native goat, and then investigate the characterization of cellulolytic activity of an anaerobic fungus. Twenty-one anaerobic fungal colonies were isolated in the study, in which 16 colonies were isolated from the rumen contents of the Hanwoo steer and 5 colonies from the duodenal fluids of the Korean native goat. Four anaerobic fungi were selected based on higher cellulolytic enzyme activities to identify under a optical microscope. NLRI-M003 and -T004 belong to Neocallimastix genus and NLRI-M014 belongs to Piromyces genus based on the morphology of their thallus, sporangia, rhizoid and the number of flagella. NLRI-M001 appeared to be an unknown strain of anaerobic fungi due to its different morphology from existing types of anaerobic fungi, though the morpholgoy is similar to Orpinomyces sp. Supplementation of 2% anaerobic fungal culture(NLRI-M003) in rumen-mixed microorganisms increased in vitro DM degradability of rice straw and filter paper up to 4 and 11%, respectively, compared with non-supplementation(control). CMCase and xylanase activities in in vitro culture were also higher in 2% fungal supplementation than controls in both rice straw and filter paper substrates.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.364-368
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• 2011

An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of Cordyceps militaris mycelia on microbial populations and fibrolytic enzyme activities in vitro. C. militaris mycelia was added to buffered rumen fluid with final concentrations of 0.00, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25 and 0.30 g/L and incubation times were for 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h. At all incubation times, the supplementation of C. militaris mycelia linearly increased the number of total viable and celluloytic bacteria; maximum responses were seen with 0.25 g/L supplementation of C. militaris mycelia. The addition of C. militaris mycelia above the level of 0.20 g/L significantly (p<0.01) increased the number of total and cellulolytic bacteria compared with the control. On the other hand, the response of fungal counts to the supplementation of C. militaris mycelia showed a linear decrease; the lowest response was seen with 0.30 g/L supplementation of C. militaris mycelia. It would seem that C. militaris mycelia possess a strong negative effect on rumen fungi since the lowest level of C. militaris mycelia supplementation markedly decreased fungal counts. Carboxylmethyl cellulase activities were linearly increased by the addition of C. militaris mycelia except at 3 and 9 h incubation times. At all incubation times, the supplementation of C. militaris mycelia linearly increased the activities of xylanase and avicelase. In conclusion, the supplementation of C. militaris mycelia to the culture of mixed rumen microorganisms showed a positive effect on cellulolytic bacteria and cellulolytic enzyme activities but a negative effect on fungi.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.810-817
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• 2011

A feeding trial was conducted to study the effect of tannin rich Pakar (Ficus infectoria) leaves on microbial profile, rumen fermentation and nutrient utilization in goats. Eight goats divided in two groups were fed pakar leaves (experimental group) and green oats (control group) as sole roughage source along with a fixed quantity of concentrate mixture for a period of 3 months. Two metabolic trials of six days duration were conducted after 30 and 90 days of experimental feeding. The dry matter intake was significantly higher (p<0.05) and digestibility's of DM, OM, CP, EE, NDF and ADF were reduced in experimental as compared with the control group. The TDN intake was similar (236.52 vs. 240.39 g/d) in both the groups. All the animals were in positive nitrogen balance. The concentration of ammonia nitrogen, TVFA, lactic acid and activities of xylanase and protease were reduced in pakar leaves fed goats. The rumen microbial profile as obtained by MPN technique showed no change in total bacterial population but total fungi and cellulolytic bacteria were reduced (p<0.05), whereas, tannin degrading/tolerant bacteria increased with the feeding of pakar leaves. Real time PCR data revealed a decrease in Ruminococcus flavefaciens, an increase in methanogens and no change in the Fibrobacter succinogenes population by feeding of pakar leaves.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.655-667
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of a hydroethanolic extract of walnut green husks (WGH) on rumen fermentation and the diversity of bacteria, methanogenic archaea, and fungi in sheep fed a high-concentrate diet. Methods: Five healthy small-tailed Han ewes with permanent rumen fistula were selected and housed in individual pens. This study adopted a self-controlled and crossover design with a control period and an experimental period. During the control period, the animals were fed a basal diet (with a ratio of concentrate to roughage of 65:35), while during the treatment period, the animals were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.5% hydroethanolic extract of WGH. Fermentation parameters, digestive enzyme activities, and microbial diversity in rumen fluid were analyzed. Results: Supplementation of hydroethanolic extract of WGH had no significant effect on feed intake, concentrations of total volatile fatty acids, isovalerate, ammonia nitrogen, and microbial protein (p>0.05). However, the ruminal pH, concentrations of acetate, butyrate and isobutyrate, the ratio of acetate to propionate, protozoa count, and the activities of filter paper cellulase and cellobiase were significantly increased (p<0.05), while concentrations of propionate and valerate were significantly decreased (p<0.05). Moreover, 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the relative abundance of rumen bacteria Christensenellaceae R7 group, Saccharofermentans, and Ruminococcaceae NK4A214 group were significantly increased, while Ruminococcus gauvreauii group, Prevotella 7 were significantly decreased (p<0.05). The relative abundance of the fungus Pseudomonas significantly increased, while Basidiomycota, Fusarium, and Alternaria significantly decreased (p<0.05). However, there was no significant change in the community structure of methanogenic archaea. Conclusion: Supplementation of hydroethanolic extract of WGH to a high-concentrate diet improved the ruminal fermentation, altered the structure of ruminal bacterial and fungal communities, and exhibited beneficial effects in alleviating subacute rumen acidosis of sheep.